Town Clerk/Tax CollectorKitty Kerner, Town Clerk / Tax Collector
Marie Snedeker, Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector 603-922-5546 email: tctx@stratfordnh.gov 
Fuller Town Hall 1956 US Route 3 PO Box 366 Stratford, NH 03590 Office Hours:
Mon 10 am to 1 pm Tue 3 - 6 pm Wed 9 am - 3:30 pm Town Forms:Click to access all Town Forms
Absentee Ballot Application Limited Power Of Attorney Notice of Intent To Cut Wood Or Timber Notice of Intent To Excavate Permission To Register Vehicle Election Information:
Upcoming Election: Town Election: Tuesday March 14, 2023 Annual Town Meeting: Saturday March 18, 2023 General Election 2022: Election Results Voter Registration at the Town Clerk's Office: You must bring your ID, proof of residency & proof of citizenship. A person must meet the following to register and vote in New Hampshire: *18 years of age or older on election day; * A United States Citizen; and * Domiciled in the town or ward where the person seeks to vote. Registering to Vote in New Hampshire provides further details on these requirements. Attention Voters: For Absentee Ballot Requests please contact the Town Clerk if you would like an application mailed to you. Otherwise, you can download the application by clicking the link above under forms. Annual Town Meeting: Saturday March 18, 2023 |
We also do boat registrations at the Town Hall 2023 Dog Licensing Remember to register your dogs for 2023 to receive a new dog tag and license. Please bring proof of rabies vaccination. You can also renew online (if you're current - late fees will apply after May 31) or renew by mail (contact us for more info). New dog registrations are best handled at the office, but we can also process those by mail. Click here for the application form. |
Town Clerk & Tax Collector - Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I need an appointment to come into the Town Clerk/ Tax Collector’s office?
A: Not at the moment. We are conducting business as usual. Masks are currently not required inside the Town office - this may change again, depending on circumstances.
Q: I need to register my car but I am not able to make it during normal business hours and my registration is coming due. What are my options?
A: For standard 12-month registration renewals, you can pay online. Simply click on the button above: Motor Vehicle Renew Online and you will be able to renew your vehicle. If you pay with a credit card there is a 2.95% third-party service fee that will be charged for utilizing this system. If you chose the electronic check option (ACH transfer) the fee is just a flat $0.95. Once the transaction enters our system during our normal business hours we will mail you the new registration and decals. Just remember to sign your registration once you receive it.
If you don’t want to (or can’t) pay online, you can call or email us to find out how much your renewal(s) will cost and you can send us a check. We will then process your renewals and mail back your new registration and decals. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Please note: New registrations or plate transfers should be done in person. As a last resort, you can fill out and sign a "Permission to Register Vehicle" form and have a family member or friend come in. This only works for a vehicle bought from a NH dealer where you have the Title Application in hand. For private sales where you need to sign a title application, please contact us first - you will need to issue a "Limited Power of Attorney" (both forms available online).-
Q: I need to pay my taxes but I am not able to make it during normal business hours and I don’t want to accrue any additional interest. Do I have any options if I can’t make it into the office?
A: YES. First, the Select Board’s office can take your tax payment if the Tax Collector isn’t in. Or, you can pay online: simply click on the button above Taxes Review/ Pay Online and you will be able to pay your taxes online. If you pay with a credit card there is a 2.95% third-party service fee that will be charged for utilizing this system. If you chose the electronic check option (ACH transfer) the fee is just a flat $0.95. You can also use the online service to find out how much you currently owe and then mail us a check. Or just call.
Q: I just received my tax bill and I don’t agree with the assessment. Do I call the Tax Collector?
A: No. If you have a question pertaining to your property or how much it was assessed for you will need to call the assessor/Selectboard’s office at 603-922-5533. The Tax Collector is simply that; a collector. Our office has no control over this matter.
Q: I would like a certified copy of a birth certificate, marriage license or death certificate. Can I get those from the town clerk? What do I need to bring? How much does a copy cost?
A: Yes you can. Please note that you can also get those copies from any Town Clerk in NH – so it may be more convenient to go to the clerk at your place of work. To obtain a certified copy of a birth or death record or marriage certificate, you must be a “qualified individual with a direct and tangible” interest. You will have to fill out an application form – either in person at the town office or contact us and we can email it to you – and provide a photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, please call the Town Clerk for assistance.
New Hampshire law requires that a nonrefundable search fee of $15.00 be collected for each record request. This search fee covers the first certified copy. Additional certified copies of the same record ordered at the same time are available for $10.00 each. Please make checks payable to the “Town of Stratford.”
If you need a marriage LICENSE, both parties have to come to the town office in person to do so. Please contact us for an appointment.
Any other questions? Just call or email us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
Property Taxes – Frequently Asked Questions:
What period does the property tax bill cover?
The property tax bill due in July covers the period from April 1st to September 30th, the property tax bill due in December covers the period from October 1st to March 31st of the following year.
What types of payment does the Town accept?
We accept cash, certified bank checks, cashier's checks, personal checks, credit cards, and money orders. For online payments, you can either use a credit card or an electronic check (ACH transfer – you will need account and routing numbers). There are additional fees associated with using credit cards at the Town Hall and online - the credit card processing company charges a 2.95% fee. ACH transactions cost $0.95 flat fee per transaction. If a personal check is returned for non-payment by our bank, an additional $25.00 returned check fee will be assessed. A rejected ACH payment will result in a $15.00 penalty – so please be careful when you enter your banking information.
When do my unpaid taxes start to accrue interest?
Interest accrues on the unpaid balance at 8% annually and begins the day after the due date noted on your bill. Interest is added daily to your account. This interest rate is established by State Statute. Please note that we will accept USPS Postmark on or before the due date as timely payment.
What is the interest rate if a lien is placed on my property?
The interest rate is 14% annually and is added to your account daily. Again, this interest rate is established by State Statute.
My taxes are paid through an escrow account with my mortgage. Do I have to forward my tax bill to my mortgage company?
It is the homeowner's responsibility to forward the tax bill to their mortgage company for timely payment. However, many mortgage companies independently request tax billing information directly from the Town of Stratford. This information (which is all public information) is provided to them. You should, however, check with your individual mortgage company to make sure that payments are made by the due date.
If there is a lien placed on my property, how long before further action is taken by the Town?
Taxpayers have two years from the date the lien is executed to pay the amount due plus associated interest and costs before the property is deeded to the Town. A series of certified mailings are sent to the taxpayer at their last known address as part of the lien and deed process.
How do I change my address with the Town?
It’s important you keep us informed of any changes to your mailing address! Otherwise, tax bills or notifications about possible liening and deeding will not reach you. Ultimately, it is YOUR responsibility as the property owner to keep us up to date. Please mail written notification to the Town of Stratford, P.O. Box 366, N. Stratford, NH 03590. Or you can email us at tctc@stratfordnh.town (include property details such as Map and Lot numbers and also a contact number so we can reach you if we have questions).
What kind of tax credits and tax exemptions are available to residents?
Exemptions are available for the elderly. Tax credits are available for veterans and disabled veterans. For more information, please contact the Town Office during normal business hours at 922-5533.
I just purchased property in Stratford. Do I need to do notify anyone?
The Town sends out tax bills usually in late May and late October. If the time of your real estate closing is near one of these dates, the bill will probably be sent to the prior owner. In that case, it’s a good idea to reach out the Tax Collector. The Coos County Registry of Deeds notifies the Town of ownership changes once the deed is recorded, which can take several weeks. We normally update ownership changes once per month in our assessing and taxing systems.
I can't afford to pay all my taxes at once, can I make payments?
Yes, the Town accepts partial payments at any time. Generally, any partial payment will be applied to your oldest taxes owed. We also accept pre-payments. In other words, if during the summer you wish to start paying on your December bill we will accept any money you give us and credit it to your account. When the bills are issued, we will bill you for the balance.
How do I file for a Tax Abatement?
You can file an application for a Tax Abatement after the “final notice of tax” which is the December tax bill. The taxpayer must file an application (forms can be found on the website under FORMS) with the Select Board’s office no later than March 1st following the December bill.
What is Timber Tax?
Timber Taxes or Yield Taxes are taxes that are collected on the timber that you cut on your property. You must file an Intent to Cut with the Town prior to your logger starting work. Once the cutting is done, a Report of Timber Cut form is filed and the tax bill is issued based on the number of board feet cut times the specific rate for each type and quality of wood (10% of the overall value). Intent to Cut forms are available at the Town Office during normal business hours or online under FORMS.
What is Excavation Tax?
Excavation Tax or Gravel Tax are taxes that are collected on the gravel that you excavate on your property. You must file an Intent to Excavate with the Town prior to beginning your operation. Once the excavation is completed for the year, a Report of Excavated Material must be filed and the tax bill is issued based on the number of yards of material excavated times $.02 per year. Intent to Excavate forms are available at the Town Office during normal business hours or online under FORMS.