Treasurer's Office

All properties in the City of Southgate receive two tax bills per year:

1. A City "Summer” tax bill is mailed around July 1, and is payable August 15 without penalty.
2. A County "Winter” tax bill is mailed around December 1, and is payable February 14 without penalty.

If you do not receive a Summer bill by July 15, or a Winter bill by December 15, and do not have an escrow account, please call the office at the number above and we will mail the bill to you.

If you elect to pay your property taxes through an escrow account, your tax bill will be sent directly to your escrow agent. If you receive your tax bill in error, please forward it to your escrow agent.

For billing accuracy, it is important that you inform the City of Southgate of changes that may affect your tax billing status. Some examples of these changes include:

• Principal Residence Information – contact the Assessor’s Office 734-258-3005.
• Transfer of Ownership – contact the Assessor’s Office 734-258-3005.

ALL MORTGAGE COMPANIES AND TITLE COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO PAY A $5 DUPLICATE BILL FEE UNLESS THEY HAVE THE ORIGINAL (OR A COPY) OF THE TAX BILLS. MEMO BILLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Tax information is available on line at https://accessmygov.com/?uid=426 
Information is also available by calling the Treasurer’s Office at 734-258-3012.

PENALTIES FOR LATE TAX PAYMENTS

Penalties begin accruing immediately after the due date at the following rates:

• Summer (City) bill: ½ of 1% of the amount owed beginning August 16. The penalty increases by ½ of 1% each month on the unpaid amount until February 28. This is the final day we can accept real property tax payments in this office for the previous tax year.
• Winter (County) bill: From February 15 to February 28, the penalty is 3% of the entire bill. Beginning March 1, you will have to contact the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office to pay your tax bill.

DELINQUENT TAXES

Beginning March 1st, payments for real property (building & land) taxes must be paid to the Wayne County Treasurer's office at:

Wayne County Treasurer
International Center Building
400 Monroe, 5th floor
Detroit, MI 48226

Call their office at 313-224-5990, or visit their website at pta.waynecounty.com for payment arrangements.

TAX DEFERMENTS

Tax deferments are available for senior citizens 62 years or older; paraplegic, hemiplegic, or quadriplegic; eligible service person, eligible veteran, eligible widow or widower; blind person; totally and permanently disabled persons with a total annual household income of less than $40,000. 

This deferment is for a homeowner's principal residence only.

Qualified persons must apply for deferments each tax season.

Click HERE for an application form, or visit the Treasurer's Office.

A deferment allows you to pay your Summer taxes, without penalty, on or before February 14 of the following year; and to pay your Winter taxes, without penalty, on or before April 15. After February 28, you must arrange to pay all unpaid taxes directly to the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office.

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES

Payments for all taxes levied on business personal property must be paid through the City Treasurer’s Office. Any business operating on December 31 of any year will be responsible for the next year’s entire billing cycle, i.e. both summer and winter bills. This is a State of Michigan law. Failure to pay Personal Property Taxes as billed may result in the placement of a Warrant of Distraint on said property and possible seizure of the property.

If you currently have past due Personal Property Taxes, please contact our collection clerk at 734-258-3010 ext. 3104.

WHERE TO MAKE PAYMENTS

Tax and water bills can be paid by mail or in person at our Treasurer’s office window on the first floor of the Norma J. Wurmlinger Municipal Building, 14400 Dix-Toledo Road, Southgate, MI 48195. Payment may also be left in our drop-box outside the wall to the right of the front entrance of city hall. If using the drop box, please place your payment (no cash) in an envelope or attach the bill and check together. Payments placed in the drop box will be processed on the next business day. Payments must be received on or before the due date by 4:00 p.m. We do not accept postmarked envelopes as proof of timely payment.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Application for AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS OF YOUR WATER BILL.

You may make payments by cash, checks, money orders, credit cards and debit cards at our Treasurer’s Office window on the first floor of the Norma J. Wurmlinger Municipal Building at 14400 Dix-Toledo, Southgate, MI 48195, Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm (CLOSED for lunch 12:00pm-1:00pm).  Payment may also be left in our drop-box outside the wall to the right of the front entrance of city hall. If using the drop box, please place your payment (no cash) in an envelope or attach the bill and check together. Payments placed in the drop box will be processed on the next business day. Payments must be received on or before the due date by 4:00 p.m. 

You may also make payments by credit/debit cards or by electronic checks over the telephone, or by going on line. To pay by phone, please call our toll free number at 844-400-3558 and follow the prompts to register an account. To pay on line, click here: https://accessmygov.com/?uid=426 and follow the prompts.

There is a 3% or a $ 2.00 minimum convenience fee for payments made by credit or debit cards. There is a minimum flat fee of $3 for payments made by electronic check for amounts up to $10,000. For amounts over $10,000, the flat fee is $10.

The convenience fees are paid to our credit/debit card processing service provider, and are not paid to the City.

We do not accept postmarked envelopes as proof of timely payment.

If you wish to arrange to pay your Water bills by Automatic Payment, please contact our Water Department at 734-258-3018.  Insert Link for the Application for automatic payments of your water bill here.

DOG LICENSING   EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2024 DOG LICESNES WILL BE ISSUED AT PARKS & RECREATION - DOG PARK PASSES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE.  

The items needed to license a dog is proof of current rabies vaccination, spay/neuter paperwork if applicable.  The fees are $1.00 for seniors 60 or over, if not a senior if the dog is spayed/neutered it’s $5.00 and intact is $10.00 for a period of 1 year.  Dogs need to be registered yearly between May 1^st and June 30^th.   If a dog owner register their pet late (after June 30^th ) the fees double, with the exception of seniors, they only pay $1.00 even if they register late.

If a resident is new to Southgate or get a new pet after the renewal period we can still register said pet at a prorated rate, (depending on what month they register).