Property Taxes are collected twice a year, winter and summer. The Township is the initial collector on all property tax levied on property in the Township. Taxes are payable at the Township Hall.

Winter taxes not paid before March 1, bills are mailed in December, and Summer taxes not paid before September 16, bills are mailed in July, can only be paid at the Muskegon County Treasurer’s office and are assessed an additional 3% late fee.

The tax total varies depending on whether a resident lives in the Montague School District part of the Township or the Whitehall School District part.

Taxes are levied in mills. A mill is .001 and is assessed against your taxable value. The State Equalized Value (SEV) of your property is assessed at 50% of actual value. Taxable value depends on when you purchased your home and can only be increased at the cost of living or 5% whichever is smaller, unless you have built onto your home. There is no restriction on the SEV increase. The value of your home is based on its value on December 31 of the previous year. The taxable value is uncapped after a sale on transfer of the property.

If you have a 100% Homestead Exemption, to determine the amount of your taxes, multiply the taxable value of your home by .02906 if you live in the Montague School District and by .02994 if you live in the Whitehall School District.

Homestead Exemptions are available on your place of residents as of May 1 of the previous year.

Interesting fact: Whitehall Township collects the taxes for all units, but levies the smallest rate of any unit.

You may not appeal your taxes. You may appeal your SEV and your taxable assessment. The Township has a Board of Review that meets in March for appealing your assessments. Visit the Board of Review listing for the members of this Committee.