Online Help Improvements & FAQ Shortcut

We have been working incredibly hard to update and streamline the Avitar online documentation. We’ve been adding step-by-step instructions for most processes to compliment the explainers that were there already. For example, on the Lien Notice topic, there is a link to the RSA, there is a section you can expand for “Understanding The Process”, and there is a step-by-step set of guidelines you can expand for “Show Me How To Do It.” It’s a really nice improvement and we recommend you take a look at it whenever you need a little assist.

To access through the program:

  • Select Help | Help Topics on the program’s main screen.
  • Within a particular dialog box, click on any blue question mark icon to directly access context specific help for that dialog box.
  • Add a bookmark for the site in your browser at collect.avitarassociates.com

We also added an FAQs button on the toolbar, which gives you easy access to the most frequently asked questions. To access this functionality, simply click this FAQs button to view the list in your internet browser.

Please take a moment to review these, as well as other Frequently Asked Questions… and check back often as we are updating periodically.

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Delinquent Notices, Liening, and Deeding

With February just a few weeks away, we thought it would be beneficial to write a blog post regarding the upcoming Notice of Arrearage (Delinquent Notice), Liening, and Deeding processes. Specifically, the requirements and dates for each of the processes, in order for you to meet the required RSA deadlines.

Before you begin any of these processes, you will need to obtain the latest version of the Tax Lien Procedure Schedule of Fees and Costs from the NH Tax Collector’s website. Several of the processes require fees to be added to an owner’s unpaid invoice, and you will need to know the breakdown of each fee. Another helpful document for deciding when to do each process is the Outline of Duties published by the NH Tax Collectors’ Association.

Below is a brief description of each process as well as the RSAs that govern said process. For details on how to complete the steps in Avitar Tax Collect, select the link provided in each of the processes.

Notice of Arrearage (RSA 76:11-b): In Avitar Tax Collect, this is called the Delinquent Tax Notice and by law, must be mailed within 90 days of the final bill due date. This notice is sent by regular mail and should include all unpaid receivables (yield, current use, gravel, timber, property, liens, water, sewer, betterment). Follow the link for more information on how to generate Delinquent Notices.

Lien Notice (RSA 80:59 and 80:60): A lien notice must be sent certified mail to every owner who has not paid their prior year taxes in full. This notice must be sent at least 30 days prior to the execution of the lien. Keep in mind that the lien must be executed by September 30th each year, so the last day to mail a lien notice would be August 30th. Follow the link for more information on how to generate Lien Notices.

Execute Lien (RSA 80:61, 80:63, 80:64): Prior to the execution of the lien, a lien notice is sent to the owner and the notice must indicate the date by which the owner has to pay his outstanding invoices to avoid liening. On the execution day, or the next day, you will execute the liens for taxpayers who did not pay their outstanding invoices in full. Follow the link for more information on how to Execute a Lien.

  • NOTE: Once you have executed your lien, you will need to send a report of each liened account to your mortgagee researcher. They will search the registry to find any mortgagees, which will need to be notified of the lien you have placed on the property. Follow the link for more information on how to generate the Lien Execution Title Search Report.
  • NOTE: Before you generate your deed notices, you will need to send a report of each account that is up for deeding to your mortgagee researcher. They will search the registry to find any mortgagees, which will need to be notified of the impending deed. Follow the link for more information on how to generate the Deed Notice Title Search Report.

Deed Notice (RSA 80:77 and 80:77-a): At least 30 days prior to the execution of a deed, a notice must be sent to each property owner and any mortgagee informing them of the impending tax deed. This means a search of the registry of deeds must be done before the notices can be mailed. Follow the link for more information on how to generate Deed Notices.

Execute Deed (RSA 80:76): RSA 80:76 states, “The collector, after 2 years from the execution of the real estate lien, shall execute to the lienholder a deed of the land subject to the real estate tax lien and not redeemed.” There are only two reasons a collector should not deed a property: the owner has filed bankruptcy or the selectmen decide they do not want the property. If the selectmen decide not to take the deed on a property, a deed waiver form should be filled out and signed by the selectmen. Follow the link for more information on how to Execute a Deed.

Please see our online documentation for more useful Tax Collect software tips.

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Real Estate Services Payment Tender

In our last update (Collect 7.0.5), we added a new payment tender option when processing Real Estate Services payments. If your municipality has opted to have your Real Estate Services tax payments electronically transferred directly into your municipal bank account, as opposed to getting actual checks in the mail, we added the option to enable ACHRE as a tender type. Previously, your only option was to show each imported payment with the tender type of CHECK.

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Online Workshop–Collect Year End Process

We are pleased to offer an online workshop to discuss preparing for year end, including what reports need to be printed and how to export your MS-61 report into DRA’s pdf format. We have scheduled the workshop to coincide with the beginning of this annual process. If you are a new collector, or just someone that struggles with the process each year, this will be a great class for you!

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Urgent Update Regarding Veteran Credits (Reposted)

(The following was originally posted on November 14th on the “Assessing” thread. It is being reposted today on the “Assessing Software” thread as it likely affects most of you, whether or not Avitar does your assessing. We apologize for any duplication for those of you who may have already seen this.)

The NH legislature passed and Governor Sununu signed into law HB 1667 (Chapter 121, laws of 2022) which amends eligibility criteria for certain veterans’ property tax credits. This became effective on July 26, 2022, and affects both the Standard and Optional Veterans Tax Credit, as well as the All Veterans Tax Credit.

Simply what this means is that if your Town has adopted the Optional Veterans Tax Credit (you give more than the standard $50 tax credit) and/or the All Veterans Tax Credit, you MUST readopt the provisions of the Statute (Optional Vets Credit 72:28, II and/or All Veterans Tax Credit 72:28-b) by March 31, 2023, in order for your credits to remain in place for the 2023 Tax Year. It is our understanding that if you have the Optional or All Veterans Tax Credits and you do not readopt the credits they will revert to the Standard Veterans Credit in the amount of $50 each.

We are proactively reaching out and urging you to get the warrant language ready and prepared for the ballot for 2023. The Department of Revenue has prepared a Technical Information Release (TIR 2022-005) on the matter dated October 19, 2022. They are ready to assist municipalities in this endeavor as are we.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

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Online Workshop — Assessing Update 4.0.4

We are pleased to offer an online workshop to discuss our latest assessing software update. There was a lot of information and many changes in this update that we don’t want you to miss.

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Urgent Update Regarding Veteran Credits

The NH legislature passed and Governor Sununu signed into law HB 1667 (Chapter 121, laws of 2022) which amends eligibility criteria for certain veterans’ property tax credits. This became effective on July 26, 2022, and affects both the Standard and Optional Veterans Tax Credit, as well as the All Veterans Tax Credit.

Simply what this means is that if your Town has adopted the Optional Veterans Tax Credit (you give more than the standard $50 tax credit) and/or the All Veterans Tax Credit, you MUST readopt the provisions of the Statute (Optional Vets Credit 72:28, II and/or All Veterans Tax Credit 72:28-b) by March 31, 2023, in order for your credits to remain in place for the 2023 Tax Year. It is our understanding that if you have the Optional or All Veterans Tax Credits and you do not readopt the credits they will revert to the Standard Veterans Credit in the amount of $50 each.

We are proactively reaching out and urging you to get the warrant language ready and prepared for the ballot for 2023. The Department of Revenue has prepared a Technical Information Release (TIR 2022-005) on the matter dated October 19, 2022. They are ready to assist municipalities in this endeavor as are we.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

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Online Workshop–Second Issue Tax Billing

We are pleased to offer an online workshop to discuss preparing your second issue tax bills, including importing the warrant, assigning credits, and printing/exporting your tax bills. We have scheduled the workshop to coincide with the beginning of this annual process. If you are a new collector, or just someone that struggles with the process each year, this will be a great class for you!

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Online Workshop–Building Permits Update 2.6.6

We are pleased to offer an online workshop to discuss our latest building permits update. There was a lot of information and many changes in this update that we don’t want you to miss.

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Informational Pop-Up Windows in Clerk

When processing a title and/or registration, there are many fields you may be unsure as to which option you should select. To better assist you in determining the correct option for these fields, we have added informational pop-up windows. To view the additional information, click on the label and an informational pop-up message will display. This functionality has been added to the following labels:

  • Last/Business Name – Displays DMV’s list of company registration months.
  • And/Or – Explains when to use each option on titles.
  • Joint Survivorship – Definition.
  • Purchased, Purchased Date, and Odometer – Helps you determine the proper Odometer and Date of Purchase to enter, and whether the vehicle should be listed as New or Used.
  • ID Type – Helps you determine the proper customer ID Type.
  • VIN – Guides you directly to the Chevrolet VIN Decoder website that DMV has approved for use in determining vehicle information that was not in Redbook.
  • Fuel, Model, Model Year, Body Style – Assists you in determining the proper values to enter in these fields.
  • Color – Displays abbreviation to use for each color.
  • Plate#/Chk – Displays Vanity Plate Hints.
  • Full/Business Name label (Lienholder Information section) – Displays instructions on how to remove a lienholder from a title when a customer has paid off the loan.
  • Gross Weight or Axles – Both categories will show the maximum GVW per axle.
  • Type/Cat – A message will display asking if you want to view DMV plate type information. If you select “Yes”, a list of all DMV plate types will open in your browser.
  • Process Header (e.g. 12 Month Renewal Registration, Title Application – AP) – When you are processing transactions, at the top of the screen is the Process Header, which tells you what process you are doing (e.g. 12 Month Renewal Registration). If you click the Process Header, additional information will display.

Please see our online documentation for more useful tips.

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