Hundreds of Islip tax payments returned to sender in postal error
A "scanning machine error" at the USPS Mid-Island Processing and Distribution Center in Melville led to hundreds of Islip property tax payments being returned to the senders. Credit: James Carbone
A machine error at a Melville mail-processing center has caused a taxing mix-up for hundreds of Islip residents.
In a townwide email, Islip officials announced last week that a “scanning machine error” at the U.S. Postal Service Mid-Island Processing and Distribution Center in Melville had caused several tax payments to be returned to the sender.
Between 250 and 300 residents, so far as the town is aware, were affected by the Jan. 4 error, according to an Islip spokeswoman.
Property tax payments for the Town of Islip and Suffolk County were due on or before Jan. 10 to avoid penalty. Town officials have let residents involved in the mix-up know to keep the returned envelope with the postmark proving timely payment.
Officials have asked residents whose tax payments were returned to contact the tax receivers office “immediately” at 631-224-5580.
A spokeswoman for the Postal Service said it has been in touch with Islip Town officials and is investigating the incident.
Brianne Ledda covers personal finance and affordability for Newsday. She previously covered Southold and Greenport for The Suffolk Times and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
Warnings before COVID vaccine fraud Doctors accused an LI nurse of faking childhood vaccines yet she kept practicing for years. The DA never investigated. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday investigative reporters Jim Baumbach and David Olson have the story.
Warnings before COVID vaccine fraud Doctors accused an LI nurse of faking childhood vaccines yet she kept practicing for years. The DA never investigated. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday investigative reporters Jim Baumbach and David Olson have the story.
