Tax Bills

Tax bills are issued twice a year. For a breakdown of the Summer and Winter tax bill amounts for each school district, see Millage Rates. All summer and winter taxes are held by the Township until March 1 and are then turned over to the Kent County Treasurer for collection.

Summer taxes may be deferred until February 14 of each tax year if the household income from the previous year was less than $40,000 and you qualify under one of the following classifications:

• Blind Person
• Eligible Service Person, Veteran
• Eligible Widow or Widower
• Paraplegic, Quadriplegic
• Senior Citizen (age 62 or older)
• Totally and Permanently Disabled

The Assessor's page contains further information about tax bills.

Reporting Taxes Paid on Tax Returns

On Federal tax returns, any taxes (exclusive of delinquents) paid during the fiscal year can be claimed if they itemize for deductions. It does not matter when the taxes were billed, only when they were paid. If a person has a mortgage company, they should go by the figures the mortgage company provides. Sometimes a check is cut in one year, but we don't receive it and input it until the following new year. We, therefore, may give them a different figure than their mortgage company. Since the mortgage company supplies the Federal government with the "correct" figures, it could trigger an audit.

On State tax returns for Homestead Property Tax Credit, you must claim, per their instructions, only the taxes billed for that fiscal year. They do not have to be paid prior to claiming a credit. But you must take only those amounts billed in July and December.

Dog Licenses

Michigan law requires that all dogs four months of age or older be licensed. Licenses can be aquired in person at the Kent County Animal Shelter, Kent County Health Department or Township or City Offices between December 1 and March 1. After March 1, there is a late fee and you then must obtain a license through the Kent County Animal Shelter. Late fees do not apply to new dogs, new Michigan residents or dogs turning four months old (within the past 30 days). Fees are listed below. To order a license by mail, send a check or money order for the proper amount, your pet's current certificate of rabies vaccination and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Kent County Dog License, 711 Ball NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Rabies certificates will be returned with the new license.