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Choose correct mailing address when paying property taxes via online banking portals
The City reminds those taxpayers who pay their taxes online through their bank to select the following mailing address with your tax payment:
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM-TAXES
P.O. BOX 671732
DETROIT, MI 48267-1732
As you can see, the City’s bank is in DETROIT! That is why the Detroit P.O. Box is listed for the payment. The City urges you to confirm that you have the correct P.O Box, City and Zip Code information when associated with your tax payment. If you do not include the correct city or zip code information, your payment may be at risk of not being delivered to the City.
The City also reminds you to please include your 12-digit parcel number 08-XX-XX-XXX-XXX which can be found on your tax bill, as your account number.
General Information
The City of Birmingham issues two tax bills every year. The first tax bill is mailed on July 1 and due without penalty on August 31. The second bill is mailed December 1 and is due without penalty on February 14.
The July tax bill is comprised of Birmingham City tax, Intermediate School, partial Birmingham School, Oakland Community College, Oakland County tax and State Education taxes. After August 31, the penalty is ¾ of 1 percent per month or fraction of a month.
The December bill is comprised of HCMA, Oakland County Parks & Recreation, Oakland County Public Transportation Authority, Zoo Authority, Art Institute and partial Birmingham School tax. There is an additional 3% penalty on property taxes paid February 15 through February 28. Beginning March 1 property taxes must be paid at Oakland County.
Tax Rate
You can calculate your tax bill by dividing the taxable value of your property by 1,000 and multiplying that number times the millage rate. A Principal Residence with a taxable value of $288,750 would have a $9,892.37 July 2022 tax bill and December 2022 tax bill of $1,247.89 for a total of $11,140.26 ($288,750/1,000 x 38.5810). A mill translates to $1.00 for every $1,000 in taxable value.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the City’s Tax Rate
Is the City of Birmingham’s local tax rate high compared to surrounding cities?
No. The City of Birmingham’s local tax rate is 13.3542, which is low in comparison to many of our surrounding cities:
Clawson: 22.3778
Royal Oak: 17.5580
Berkley: 15.7752
Beverly Hills 13.6735
Ferndale 24.6953
Bloomfield Hills 10.9600
If Birmingham’s local tax rate is 13.3542, why am I paying a total tax rate of 40.2062?
Birmingham’s local tax rate is only a portion of the overall tax bill. The other taxes represent county and school taxes, in addition to transportation, the Detroit Zoo, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. The city's tax levy makes up approximately 34% of the overall tax bill. The city has lowered its tax levy each year for the past 8 years. We are able to do this due to the reinvestment in the residential and commercial areas of our city. Birmingham’s total tax rate of 40.2062 includes the county and school tax, transportation, Detroit Zoo, and the Detroit Institute of Arts on top of the 13.3542 city tax.
How does the total tax rate for Birmingham residents compare to surrounding cities?
The total tax rate for surrounding cities are as follows (based on 2021 data, homestead exemption):
Clawson: 48.3717
Royal Oak: 39.4023
Berkley: 38.5788
Beverly Hills: 40.1607
Ferndale: 50.8095
Bloomfield Hills: 36.0834
Is the City of Birmingham’s millage rate high compared to comparable cities throughout the state?
No. From a state perspective, the city's total millage rate is lower than many communities of approximate population size:
Mt. Pleasant: 44.3433
Adrian: 42.9171
Ypsilanti: 67.5622
Monroe: 43.3223
Auburn Hills 39.0068
Romulus 52.6568
Wyandotte 54.0158
Garden City 57.7899
Madison Heights 46.6624
If the City of Birmingham’s tax rate is low compared to most surrounding cities and to those of comparable size across the state, why is my tax bill so high?
A resident's tax bill is calculated by multiplying the total tax rate by the value of their property. Even with a lower tax rate, Birmingham residents may pay more property taxes than residents in other municipalities due to the value of their property. Birmingham property values are higher than most communities because of proximity to a thriving historical downtown, highly rated school system, charming tree-lined neighborhoods, award-winning parks, golf courses and more.
Birmingham Homeowner's Principal Residence Tax Rates
The information shown below represents the principal residence millage rates as adopted for 2023. For additional information about the specific millage rates for a property, including special assessments and non-homestead millage rates, please contact the Treasurer's Office at 248.530.1890.
| July 2023 | December 2023 | |||
| City of Birmingham | Operating | 10.7501 | - | |
| Debt | .5137 | - | ||
| Refuse | 0.7384 | - | ||
| Library | 1.3142 | - | ||
| Total City | 13.3164 | |||
| Birmingham Public Schools | Supplemental | 2.5304 | 2.5983 | |
| Debt | 3.8000 | - | ||
| Total Schools | 6.3304 | 2.5983 | ||
| Oakland County Community College | 1.4891 | - | ||
| Oakland County Intermediate Schools | 3.1658 | - | ||
| State Education Tax | 6.0000 | - | ||
| Oakland County | 3.9686 | 0.5501 | ||
| Zoo Authority | - | 0.0945 | ||
| Oakland Transit | - | 0.9500 | ||
| Art 9851 | - | 0.1945 | ||
| Total | 34.2703 | 4.3874 |
Deferment of Taxes
Deferments are available for senior citizens and legally disabled persons with an annual income of less than $40,000. This deferment is for a homeowner's principle residence only and allows summer taxes to be paid on or before February 14 of the following year without penalty. Qualified individuals must complete the Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes Form annually, and return to the Treasurer's Office, along with a copy of your MI-1040CR before September 15th. Download a Summer Deferment FAQ for more information.
Installment Payments
The City Charter establishes the procedures that must be followed for installment payments of your July taxes. Under these procedures, you must pay at least 30% of the tax due, file written notice with the Treasurer annually, and pay a penalty equal to 2% of the remainder of the tax, on or before July 18, 2023. After August 31, 2023, an additional 0.75% per month penalty will be applied to the unpaid balance. No other partial payments can be accepted.
Property tax information is available on the Oakland County 24 Hour Tax Hotline by dialing 888.600.3773. To access the information, you will need to enter your 10 digit parcel Id number. There is no charge for this service.
Personal Property Taxes
Personal Property is assessed as of tax day, December 31st of last year. Businesses in existence on tax day are responsible for the full amount on the July and December tax bills.
Tax Payments
Taxes can be paid in person or by mail. The Treasurer's Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Treasurer's Office is inside City Hall at 151 Martin Street, which is one block west of Old Woodward and one block south of Maple. Our office is closed on holidays. There is a self-addressed return envelope enclosed in your tax bill for your convenience. A drop box is located behind City Hall.
You may also pay taxes online.
Tax payments must be physically received by the Treasurer's Office on or before the due date to avoid penalty. If taxes have not been paid before March 1, both July and December will be payable to the Oakland County Treasurer.
If you do not receive your summer tax bill by the end of the first week in July or your winter tax bill by the end of the first week in December, please call the Treasurer's Office at 248.530.1890. We will send you a copy of your bill.
The tax bills are mailed either to the homeowner or the homeowner's mortgage company; therefore, it is very important that the homeowner keep the city informed of any changes in homeowner's mailing address or mortgage company information. In the case of a refinance, a new mortgage company may now be responsible for paying the taxes, or the taxes are no longer taxes paid through an escrow account. State law holds the homeowner responsible for making sure taxes are paid. Please contact the Treasurer's Office at 248.530.1890, or in writing with the property owner's signature, to change the mailing address.