• If you disposed of this vehicle and did NOT transfer the license plates to another vehicle, please refer to the required documentation for motor vehicle assessment changes.
• If you disposed of the vehicle after October 1^st and transferred license plates to another vehicle, you should pay the tax bill due in July on the former vehicle and you will receive a pro-rated bill the following January that will have an assessment credit automatically applied (see Supplemental Motor Vehicle Tax Bills below).

The assessor is required by Connecticut Law to list and value all real and personal property. Valuation is subject to ad valorem taxation on an assessment grand list each year. The "ad valorem" basis for taxation means that all property should be taxed "according to value," which is the definition of ad valorem. Motor vehicles are assessed each year, utilizing the October issue of a national pricing manual, at 70 percent of the average retail value.

Assessed real estate values in Connecticut are 70 percent of the estimated fair market value as of the last town-wide revaluation.  The 2022 revaluation is being completed now.   The previous revaluation was as of October 1, 2017.   The next revaluation is expected to be for October 1, 2026.  In the years between revaluation the assessor must maintain the values and the administrative records. This office is responsible for approximately; 11,000 real estate parcels; 30,000 motor vehicle accounts and 1,500 business personal property accounts. The assessor is required to sign and file the grand list by January 31st of each year.

What the Assessor does not do:

The assessor does not raise or lower taxes. The assessor does not make the laws that affect property owners.

The assessor's Office has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected. The assessor's primary responsibility is to estimate the fair market value of your property, so that you may pay only your fair share of the taxes. The tax rate is determined by all the taxing agencies within the Town, and is the basis for the budget needed or demanded by the voters to provide for services, such as schools, roads, law enforcement, etc. Tax rates are simply those rates that will provide funds to pay for those services.

Each year the CT DMV sends us a list of registered motor vehicles. These vehicles are assessed at 70% of the estimated retail value, as published in the October issue of a nationally recognized appraisal guide. The appraisal guide is used statewide and is recommended by the State Office of Policy and Management. All vehicles are assumed to have average condition, based on its year, make and model.

If you feel a vehicle does not reflect average condition, you may appeal the assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals, which meets in September of each year.  Please call the Assessor’s Office for the date(s) of their hearings.

The most important thing to do is cancel the registration plates with the Connecticut DMV, so that the vehicle will not appear on upcoming tax rolls. For vehicles that are sold, destroyed, stolen, or registered out of state please submit documentation to our office. You may download a copy of the Motor Vehicle Proof List.

To arrive at the estimated "fair market value" for your property, the assessor must know what "willing sellers" and "willing buyers" are doing in the marketplace. The Assessor must collect, record and analyze a great deal of information about property and market characteristics, in order to estimate the fair market value, including cost of construction in the area and changes in zoning, financing and economic conditions that may affect property values. The Assessor uses the three nationally recognized appraisal approaches to value: cost, income and market. This data is then correlated into a final value.

The object of the valuation program is to estimate "the fair market value" as of a particular date, October 1, 2022, (known as the "revaluation assessment date")

Taxes can increase because of an increase in the property tax rate (mill rate) or in the assessment of the property or both.  The mill rate is set annually when the town budget is approved.  In addition to the annual cost of town services, such things as large building projects contribute to a higher mill rate.

The assessment of real estate changes in between revaluation years to account for additions and remodeling for example.

Personal property, including motor vehicles are revalued annually. 

Motor vehicle assessments are based on their retail value as of the previous October 1.  Motor vehicle values have been increasing sharply since 2020.  The assessments reflect that.

If your opinion of the value of your property differs from the assessment value, by all means go to the office and discuss the matter. A "street card" is available for every property in Town. Ask to see your card. The staff will be glad to answer your questions about the assessment value. Ask yourself three questions:

1. Is my data correct?
2. Is my value in line with others on the street?
3. Is my value in line with sale prices in my neighborhood as of the last town-wide revaluation, October 1, 2022?

Keep in mind what is important: Sale prices between 2017 and 2022, condition, neighborhood, building size and lot area are the most critical factors in the valuation process. There is a variety of information available to help you determine whether your assessment is fair and equitable. The staff will be happy to assist you, and no appointment is necessary.

If, after discussing the matter with the staff and researching the assessments of comparable properties within your area, a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal your assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals by filing an appeal application.

Taxpayers may appeal their assessment to the Farmington Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA) pursuant to Connecticut General Statute (C.G.S.) §12-11. Appeals to the BAA must be in writing and received in the Assessor’ Office no later than February 20. (Postmark not accepted.) Applications to the BAA are available on the Town’s website or by calling (860) 675-2370.The BAA meets in March and will mail a notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

 BAA Appeal Form.

You are appealing your assessment value, not your taxes.

Wish to appeal? The application is easy, but…Make a case…Give reasons. The Board will respond to your specific concerns and comparisons.

Did you refinance or purchase the property between 2021 and 2022? It may help the appeal process to submit a copy of an appraisal report based on October 1, 2022, market values.

Hearings are held in March and you will be notified in writing, by March 1, as to the date and time of your hearing.

Hearings are also held in September for motor vehicles only.  Motor Vehicle BAA Appeal Form

Appeal Denied:

• You will receive a notice indicating your application was denied.  
• Any person claiming to be aggrieved by the action of the board may, within two months from the date of the mailing of the decision appeal to the superior court.

Appeal Approved:

• You will receive a notice indicating the amount of the assessment reduction.
• Your assessment reduction, if for real estate, is permanent, until the next revaluation, unless the property is improved. No need to reapply each year. If your motor vehicle assessment was reduced, you must notify the Assessor's Office of the current condition of the vehicle each year on or about October 1st.

Based on the 2021 Grand List Year, with a mill rate of 29.32 mills or $29.32 per $1000 of assessment value. Example: Assessment value: 100,000 X .02932 = $2,932.00

A variety of exemptions are available to reduce property tax obligations for certain qualifying taxpayers: elderly persons, blind persons, veterans, disabled veterans, surviving spouse or widow of qualified veterans and social security totally disabled persons. The qualifying date is October 1st of each year. You may download a copy of the war dates.

If you have the slightest suspicion you may be eligible or have any questions, call the Assessor's Office to discuss details.

Note that certain exemption applications will require copy of the IRS tax forms filed in the last calendar year. An additional qualification for most exemptions is, being a legal resident of CT, having ownership and residing at the property as of the assessment date, October 1st.