Nassau homeowners receive 2026–27 school tax bills in early October. Suffolk homeowners receive them in early December. The school portion is ~60–75% of your total bill, so the May 19 budget vote results determine most of what you owe. Here's the calendar, the levy math, and the appeal path if your bill is higher than expected.
| County | Bill mailed | First half due | Second half due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | Late Sept / early Oct 2026 | Nov 10, 2026 (no penalty) | May 10, 2027 |
| Suffolk | Early Dec 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | May 31, 2027 |
The school budget vote on May 19, 2026 set each district's levy — the total dollar amount the district will raise from property tax for the 2026–27 school year. Three things then translate that levy into your specific bill:
So even if a district stays under the 2% tax cap, your bill can rise more than 2% if your assessment grew faster than the district average, or you lost an exemption.
Districts that piercing the 2% cap (Shelter Island, Bayport-Blue Point, Uniondale, Lynbrook) needed 60% voter approval to enact higher levies. See the full results page.
The most common causes, in order of frequency:
Use the 5-minute diagnostic checklist to identify the exact cause.
Each line of your school tax bill should be:
If you live in Nassau and want a guided tour of your bill, see How to read your Nassau tax bill. Suffolk: How to read your Suffolk tax bill.
Math errors. Errors on the bill itself (wrong rate, missing exemption, transcription) are corrected by your school district's tax receiver or your town receiver of taxes. Call the number on the bill within 30 days of receipt.
Assessment errors. If you think your assessed value is wrong, you can't change this year's bill — but you can grieve for next year:
If you miss Grievance Day, see what to do if you missed the Suffolk deadline.
Most counties send the homeowner the bill for transparency, even when the lender pays through escrow. Check with your servicer to confirm they received the bill and will pay by the due date.
Yes. Both Nassau and Suffolk accept full payment when the first half is due. No discount for prepayment in either county.
Penalties begin accruing immediately after the no-penalty grace period (Nov 10 in Nassau, Jan 10 in Suffolk). The penalty schedule increases monthly. See late penalty calculator.
Most likely cause: different assessed values, or different exemption status. Compare your assessed value to your neighbor's using the assessment lookup tool for your town. If your assessment is materially higher than comparable homes nearby, grieve next cycle.
Nassau homeowners: when the bill mails in late September / early October 2026. Suffolk: when the combined bill mails in early December 2026.
Grievance deadlines, STAR limit updates, new exemption laws. One short email, only when something actionable happens. Unsubscribe in one click.
Subscribe →Last verified: 2026-05-17. Tax rules change; we re-verify each page quarterly.
Estimates and educational content only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with your county or town receiver, an attorney, or a CPA before making financial decisions.