Amherst Property Tax Records Search
Amherst property tax records are maintained by the Town Assessor's office and accessible through Erie County's online systems. The town has over 6,300 residential properties, and the average tax bill has climbed to about $10,000 per year. You can search for any parcel, check assessed values, and pay taxes online through the town's payment portal. Principal Assessor Kimberly Mew oversees all assessment work, and the town keeps detailed records on ownership, exemptions, building characteristics, and sales history for every lot in Amherst.
Amherst Property Tax Overview
Amherst Assessor's Office
The Town of Amherst Assessor's office handles all property tax records for the town. Principal Assessor Kimberly Mew leads the team that sets assessed values each year. As of 2025, the average home in Amherst is assessed at $558,828, and the tax rate sits at about $16.86 per $1,000 of valuation. Residential properties make up 89.1% of the tax base. About 68% of homes are owner-occupied, which is around 4,260 of the total 6,301 residential parcels.
The Amherst Assessor maintains assessment rolls that show every parcel's value, property class, and exemption status. The Town Council votes each year on tax classification. Right now, Amherst uses a single tax rate for all property types. The town does not offer an open space discount, residential exemption, or small commercial exemption. Commercial properties have been falling and now make up less than 6% of the tax base.
You can visit the assessor in person at Amherst Town Hall. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. They are closed on weekends and holidays.
Search Amherst Property Tax Records Online
The fastest way to look up Amherst property tax records is the online tax payment and search system. You can search by bill number, tax map number, property address, or owner name. When searching by owner name, leave out the middle initial. For address searches, type just the street number and name. Skip the suffix like Rd. or Dr. The system shows current tax bills, payment status, and balance due.
A few things to know about paying online. Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) carry a 2.45% service fee. That works out to $24.50 for every thousand dollars. Visa debit cards cost $3.95 flat. Electronic checks cost $1.75 flat. These fees go to the web service provider, not the town. They are not refundable. Only full payments are accepted online.
If you prefer to pay in person, Amherst Town Hall has a 24-hour outside drop box by the side entrance. The deadline to pay without penalty is typically in mid-February. After that, penalties apply under New York's Real Property Tax Law.
Note: Service fees on online payments are non-refundable and collected by the payment provider, not the Town of Amherst.
Erie County Property Tax Resources
Erie County provides additional tools for Amherst property tax records. The Erie County Real Property Tax Services office is at 95 Franklin Street, Room 100, Buffalo, NY 14202. Their tax line is (716) 858-8333. The county publishes tax rates for every municipality, including Amherst. They also maintain the Property Record Online System, or PROS.
Through the PROS search tool, you can look up any parcel in Erie County by address, owner name, or tax ID. The data comes from the NYS Real Property System and includes assessment values, property details, and tax amounts. The county also offers GIS mapping, historical tax data, and rate comparisons by municipality. If you need to change the mailing address on your tax bill, contact the Amherst Assessor directly.
Amherst Property Tax Exemptions
Amherst residents can apply for tax exemptions through the assessor. The STAR program reduces school taxes for owner-occupied homes. Basic STAR is open to all homeowners. Enhanced STAR gives a larger break to seniors 65 and older who meet the income requirements. You can learn more about STAR through the NYS STAR program page.
Veterans exemptions under RPTL Sections 458 and 458-a can reduce assessed value based on service type and disability. Senior citizens may qualify for an additional exemption under RPTL Section 467. Each exemption requires a separate application, and deadlines vary. Check with the assessor's office for current filing dates.
How Amherst Property Taxes Work
Property taxes in Amherst are based on the assessed value of your home times the tax rate. The rate is set each year and covers town, county, school district, and special district levies. At $16.86 per thousand in 2025, a home assessed at $558,828 would have a combined tax bill near $9,422 before any exemptions. The actual bill varies depending on which school district and fire district serve the property.
The tentative assessment roll comes out on May 1. If you disagree with your value, talk to the assessor first. Formal grievances go to the Board of Assessment Review on Grievance Day, which is the fourth Tuesday in May. You file form RP-524 for that. If the board rules against you, small claims review or an Article 7 court proceeding are the next steps. The Check Your Assessment page explains each option.
Amherst County Resources
Amherst is located in Erie County. Visit the county page for more on countywide property tax records, tax maps, and the Real Property Tax Services office.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have property tax record pages: