Hempstead adds tax-collection sites for May

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The Town of Hempstead has set up three drive-through tax-collection booths at points across the town, including one in front of Rock Hall, the stately, two-story 1767 mansion in Lawrence.

Supervisor Don Clavin and Tax Receiver Jeanine Driscoll came to Rock Hall Thursday to announce the new collection locations, which are intended to reduce traffic at the main collection office in Hempstead and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection for taxpayers and town employees.

The main collection office is at 200 North Franklin St., Hempstead.

Rock Hall is at 199 Broadway in Lawrence.

The two other new drive-through sites are:

Echo Park, 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead.

Seamans Neck Park, 2700 S. Seamans Neck Road, Seaford.

The next tax-collection deadline is June 1, said town spokesman Mike Caputo. The main drive-through collection office in Hempstead will open May 1. The other three will open May 18 and remain open through June 1.

All sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, except for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, when they will be closed. The sites only accept tax payments by check or money order.


“During this pandemic, we want to do everything that we can to reduce the stress and anxiety for our taxpayers,” said Town Councilman Bruce Blakeman, who joined Clavin and Driscoll at Town Hall for the announcement.  “The establishment of additional drive-through payment offices in communities some distance from the tax office in Hempstead will provide greater convenience for taxpayers who wish to pay their school taxes in person.”

“Thousands of our residents prefer to pay their property taxes in person,” Driscoll said. “These drive-through payment offices will accommodate our constituents in a safer manner.”

By executive order on Monday, Governor Cuomo pushed back the payment deadline for second-half 2019-20 school taxes by three weeks to June 1. The deadline was previously May 11. Clavin said he was pleased the governor delayed the payment, a move that he had called for to provide taxpayer relief for those suffering amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to the booths, property owners may pay their tax bills by credit or debit card or electronic check (e-check) online or by telephone.

To pay online, visit the Receiver’s Online Payment Portal at https://hempsteadny.gov/view-pay-tax-bills-online.

To pay by telephone, call (833) 378-1236 and follow the prompts.