2026 fiscal calendar
Know the tax date before it becomes a penalty date.
Tax bills, payment rules, and valuation-review windows are controlled by the local jurisdiction and the governing state framework. The verified record below separates published figures from dates that require confirmation with Tompkins County Department of Assessment.
Effective rate
2026 Town and County rates are published by municipality; no single countywide effective rate verified.
Statement mailing
January 1 for county/town taxes; June 1 for villages; September 1 for most schools; October 1 for Ithaca School District.
Payment deadline
2026 cycle varies by district: county/town taxes are billed January 1, village taxes June 1, most school taxes September 1, and Ithaca School District taxes October 1; the county publishes the schedule but no single countywide payment deadline.
Valuation protest
Fourth Tuesday in May 2026 for the City, towns, villages, schools, and county under Tompkins County's published assessment-roll schedule.
Critical payment warning
Do not assume a grace period.
The verified county record identifies the payment timing above but does not establish a universal penalty schedule for this page. Late charges, interest, collection costs, tax-sale procedures, and lien or foreclosure timelines can depend on state law and the local collector’s process. If the deadline is close or a balance is delinquent, contact the tax collector directly and request the current payoff amount in writing.
Treat the published payment deadline as a hard operational date and retain your receipt or confirmation number.
Read the calendar in order
From assessment to collection
1. Valuation and notice
Review the assessment notice as soon as it arrives. The protest window may run from the notice date rather than from the payment due date.
2. Statement and account review
Match the tax statement to the parcel or account number and confirm exemptions, assessed value, taxing units, credits, and balance.
3. Payment confirmation
Use the official collector channel, then save the receipt, transaction reference, and date posted. A bank submission is not always the same as a county posting date.