Property Tax Collection

By law, property tax bills need to be mailed by the third Monday in December. We strive to mail bills out earlier than the state deadline. The bills are mailed to the owner of record per the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds, unless an official mailing address change has been made at the City Assessor’s office prior to November 15. If you do not receive a mailed tax bill, the tax bill can be obtained online. The portal is always available to the public, even before tax bills are mailed. See current year property tax information for specific details on the most recent tax year.

• Pay your tax in full by January 31.
• Pay in three interest-free installments by January 31, March 31, and May 31. You do not need to sign up for the installment payment plan. We mail out courtesy reminders prior to the second and third due dates.

• Make checks payable to the City of Wauwatosa.
• Escrow checks from your mortgage company should be signed by all property owners listed on the check.
• Escrow check overpayments are refunded to the taxpayer.
• Enclose a payment coupon with your mailed or dropped off payment.

Pay by Mail

• Pay by mail using a payment coupon and return envelope that came in your tax bill mailing. Do not use a return envelope from a previous year. The receipt date for timely mailed payments will be the date on the U.S. Postal Service postmark.

Pay Online

• Payment online at the property tax portal includes processing fees of $1.50 for an e-check, $3.95 for Visa personal debit card, or 2.55% of the transaction for all other payment cards. These fees are charged by the payment processor, Value Payment Systems.

Pay by Secure Payment Depository

• Drop off check and payment coupon using the return envelope that came in your tax bill mailing in Secure Payment Depository located on the southwest exterior corner of City Hall.

Pay In Person

• Bring tax bill and payment to Treasurer’s Office or Payment Center during business hours. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8-4:30, excluding city holidays. Refer to the insert found in your tax bill mailing for specific dates.

• Payments made by your lender or bank are posted to our property tax portal as of the date they are received. The portal is updated in live-time.

You can get a receipt:

• Online from the property tax portal
• Contacting our office at (414) 479-8960 or [email protected]
• In person at the City Hall Welcome Desk or Treasurer’s Office

If you do not make payment on your indicated property tax bill by the due date, your bill is considered delinquent and the remaining balance is subject to 1% interest and 0.5% penalty charges per month, retroactive to February 1. Interest and penalties are always charged in full months per Wisconsin State Law.

If you are paying your taxes in installments on January 31, March 31, and May 31, you must pay all installments by their due dates. If you do not, the entire amount of taxes that remain unpaid is considered delinquent.

We stop collecting Property Taxes on July 31

• We collect taxes from December to July 31.
• If your tax bill becomes delinquent prior to July 31, it is payable to us. If your tax bill remains unpaid after July 31, the delinquent taxes are paid to Milwaukee County Treasurer at 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233. You can call them at (414) 278-4033.