Office of Tax Collection

The Tax Collector is charged with the responsibility for receiving and collecting all property taxes and assessments both current and delinquent.  As a statutory officer of the State of New Jersey, the Tax Collector is obligated to follow all State Statutes regarding property tax collection, including billing, due dates, interest on delinquent tax payments and tax sale procedures.  Alison Varrelmann is licensed by the State of New Jersey as a Certified Tax Collector. 

It is important to note that the municipal taxes are only a portion of a property taxpayer's obligation.  The two other separate government entities, Ocean County and the Lacey Township Board of Education, develop and adopt their own budgets funded by property taxes. After collection, payments are made to Ocean County and the Lacey Township Board of Education for their portion of taxes.  The balance of the collections is used to fund local municipal expenses. New Jersey Law requires that Municipal Government serves as a billing and collection agency for all separate entities. 

Your tax bill is mailed out once annually by the end of the summer after the certified rate is approved by the County Board of Taxation. Property taxes are due on February 1, May1, August1, and November 1.  Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt you from paying taxes or the interest due on delinquent taxes.  The Township does permit a 10 day grace period.  The State of New Jersey does not permit postmarks, taxes must be received in the office on or before the 10th, however, if the 10th falls on a weekend or legal holiday, you have until the next business day to make payment without interest.  All payments may be made by cash, check, or money order.  Credit card payment will be accepted until November 10th on current year taxes.  

Bills may be paid in full by adding the amounts on the four numbered stubs.  This covers the last half of the current year and the first half of the following year. Visa, MasterCard, Discover Cards are accepted.  

***Credit cards can be used for payment of taxes until the property is subject to Tax Sale.***

We have installed a drop-box (black box), located in front of the building next to the US Post Office mailbox for Township payments or correspondence for your convenience after hours. For payments to be credited the same day it must be in the drop box no later than 4:00 PM of that business day. 

Any open tax, water or sewer balance as of November 11th of the current year is subject to tax sale. The tax sale list will be available via a link on this website.  A notice will be advertised in the Times-Beacon ( a Gannett publication) a weekly paper available on Thursdays. 

 

Additional Links

Taxpayer's Bill of Rights 

Contact Information

Alison Varrelmann, CTC
Tax Collector's Office
818 West Lacey Rd. 2nd Fl
Forked River, NJ 08731-1399

Phone: (609) 693-1100, ext 2210
Email: Avarrelmann@laceytownship.org

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.