Personal Property Tax Information

What defines personal property taxes?

Definition of personal property. The term "personal property", shall include all manufacturing machinery and equipment, goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, and effects, of any nature or description, having any real or marketable value, and not included in the term "real property".

Making a Payment
Payment Deadlines
Delinquent Personal Property Tax Policy
Information Related to Real Estate Property

Please read carefully to see the changes for payment of personal property tax bills—

Tax bills are mailed to the business OWNER(S) on record for personal property in the City of Oak Creek. If you were the owner of the business on January 1st, you are responsible for the 2007 personal property tax, even if you no longer own the business. On January 1st, if you were not the owner of the business listed on the personal property tax bill you received, please forward it to the owner or return it to the City Treasurer’s Office.

CHECK(s) should be payable to Treasurer, or City of Oak Creek.  Please DO NOT STAPLE your check to your tax bill, DO NOT COMBINE with any other payments and DO NOT send correspondence with your payment. Checks not properly completed or endorsed may be returned unprocessed and your taxes could become delinquent. Receipts are not valid until the check clears our bank. Any check returned from the bank for any reason is subject to a $25.00 recovery fee and the applicable payment will be void. We must receive a full replacement payment and separate recovery fee, with cash or certified funds, by the original due date to avoid delinquent charges.

Important Information

The amount of the payment due is shown on your tax bill and must be paid in full by January 31st. The tax bill is the only bill you will receive. Any payment not made by its due date will result in delinquency of the entire unpaid principal balance. All delinquent tax will accumulate interest and penalty charges from February 1st at 1.5% per month. The postmark governs the date of payment - NOT the date on the check.

Making A Payment

Pay your taxes by credit card, we are pleased to announce the availability of credit card payments for payment of personal property taxes. In cooperation with the City of Oak Creek, Official Payments Corporation offers individuals and businesses the opportunity to pay property tax by way of credit card by telephone or directly over the Internet. This service is safe, reliable, and in accordance with all state and government regulations. In order to process your payment, Official Payments Corporation, the credit card service provider, charges a convenience fee based on the amount of the transaction, currently 2.75% ($1.00 minimum fee) subject to change without notice.

Easy Payment via Telephone or Internet (We cannot accept credit card payments in person; however, we will have a computer available at City Hall).

To pay by telephone call toll-free 1-800-272-9829 (Please enter Jurisdiction Code 6717 when prompted) or visit www.officialpayments.com to pay taxes over the Internet (link also available on the City's website at www.oakcreekwi.org). You will be asked to enter information such as: type of tax (Personal Property - 6 digit parcel numbers, for businesses only), total of your payment, parcel number (located in the upper right hand corner of your tax bill), and credit card information. Please have your tax bill and credit card available.

The system will tell you the total of your payment, including the appropriate fee; obtain approval of the charge and issue an onscreen confirmation number and a printable digital receipt. Confirmation is emailed to users who request it. The charge will also appear on your credit card statement: the tax amount will appear on one line and the convenience fee amount on a separate line.

By mail, please return payment with your entire tax bill for proper identification.  To receive a receipt of payment from the Treasurer’s office, please enclose your original tax bill, a copy of your tax bill or a self-addressed envelope.  We will return your tax bill with your receipt. 

• ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31st ONLY to: City of Oak Creek, P.O. Box 1042, Milwaukee, WI 53201. DO NOT use the green envelope from previous years and DO NOT USE THE P.O. BOX AFTER JANUARY 31st or it will be returned to sender unprocessed.
• OR mail to:  City of Oak Creek, 8640 S. Howell Avenue, Oak Creek, WI  53154.

When mailing a payment to the City of Oak Creek, a PAYMENT IS TIMELY IF ALL of the following criteria are met: 

• it is mailed to the City of Oak Creek in a properly addressed envelope,
• *postmarked before midnight of the last date prescribed for making the payment, with postage prepaid, and
• is received by the proper official not more than 5 days after the prescribed date for making the payment

In person at any of the following five Tri-City Bank locations through January 31^st only:

• S. 27th St. and College Ave.
• W. Ryan Rd. near S. 27th St.
• MegaMall Pick ‘n Save store (corner of Puetz Rd. & Howell Ave.)
• Pick‘n Save store (S. 27th St. near College Ave.)
• Pick‘n Save store (corner of Ryan Rd. & 27th St.)

You will receive a receipt from the bank.

24-hour depository, located near the south doors of City Hall.

DRIVE-UP 24 hour depository, located at City Hall on the east side of the south parking lot (Puetz Road), is a quick, easy and convenient way to pay your taxes.

Simply place your bill, along with a check, money order or cashiers check (NO CASH PLEASE!) in a sealed, standard size envelope.  Drive to City Hall and follow the drop box signs.  Enter the drive-thru facing Puetz Road, drop your envelope into the slot and drive away.   To receive a receipt of payment for taxes, please enclose your original tax bill, a copy of your tax bill or a self-addressed envelope.  We will return your tax bill with your receipt.

In person at City Hall, 8640 S. Howell Avenue.  Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.  (Please note the following exceptions).

• Monday, Dec. 31st, 9 am - 12 noon for tax payments only
• We will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24th, Tuesday, Dec. 25th, and Tuesday, Jan. 1st. On these days please use one of the other available payment options.

Payment Deadlines

Full Payment

“Paid-in-full” payment is due January 31, 2008. 

Please, if at all possible, take advantage of the 24-hour depository, the U.S. mail, any of the five Tri-City Bank locations, or the credit card option and avoid waiting in long lines at City Hall.

Delinquent Tax Policy

1. Those accounts determined by the City Treasurer to be delinquent as of February 1st, will receive a notice of delinquency.
2. Those accounts determined by the City Treasurer to be delinquent as of March 1st, will receive a copy of this policy and a letter of delinquency from the City Attorney, which will advise the taxpayer of the ramifications of nonpayment.  If not paid on or before March 31st, all delinquent accounts will be turned over to the City's collection agency.
3. Any delinquent amount still outstanding on October 1st, regardless of whether in collection or in legal proceedings will be noticed in the City's official newspaper, showing the taxpayer's name and/or business name, address, the delinquent principal amount plus interest as allowed by WI State Statutes.