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Treasurer

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1. How can I change my name or mailing address on my tax bill?

For your real estate or personal property tax bill please contact the Assessor's Office.
For your excise tax bill you will need to update your registration with the RMV. Click here for the Assessor's Office.

2. How do I change the name and/or mailing address on my water bill?

Please contact the Water Department. Click here for the Water Department.

3. When do I get my excise tax bill?

There is no set schedule for excise. It is always due 30 days from the date of issuance. If you car was registered in the previous year the bill is normally mailed out in February and due in March. If you register a car during the year you will normally see the excise bill 2 to 3 months after registration. If you are unsure its been issued please call the Treasurer's office at 978-674-4222 with the plate number or your license number, and we can tell you if it's been issued.

4. When are my real estate or personal property taxes due?

Real estate and personal property taxes are issued the first business day of July, October, January, and April. They are always due the first business day of August, November, February, and May.

5. Do I need to pay an excise bill for a car I no longer own?

Yes, it is still a valid bill. It will need to be paid, or you may contact the assessor's office for an abatement. If an abatement is granted, but does not bring the bill to zero, the balance due will need to be paid by the due date of the bill. If it isn't paid by the due date you will run the risk of fees and interest being added to the bill.

6. Why are the charges on my water bill high?

The Water Department issues the bill. Please contact them with questions related to charges. Click here for the Water Department.

7. Why is my tax bill so high?

Your tax bill is based on the value of your property multiplied along with the current tax rate. For more information please contact the Assessor's Office. Click here for the Assessor's Office.

8. Are there fees associated with paying online?

Yes there are convenience fees that are charged when paying online. When paying with an e-check for any bill it would be $0.40 per transaction. When paying with a credit/debit card fees can vary. Tax bills are subject to at least 2.95% of the total amount paid with a minimum of $1.00 per transaction. Water bills are subject to at least 3.5% of the total amount paid with a minimum of $3.95 per transaction.

9. What happens when my online payment gets rejected?

You will receive an email notifying you of the rejection, and it will contain the reason why. Online payment for the bill can take up to 3 business days from the date of rejection to become available again. You will be responsible to make sure payment is received by the Treasurer's office by the due date even if your online payment is rejected. Any payments rejected after the due date of a bill are subject to late fees and/or interest.

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Treasurer - Using Invoice Cloud - Getting Help

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1. I accidentally deleted my current email notification, what should I do?

If you are registered, you can login via your biller website and view the bill there, or you can call your biller’s office and ask them to resend the email.

2. If I have additional questions or I am having trouble registering, who should I call?

Your biller’s office at 978-674-4222 can answer most questions, but if the website is down or inoperable, please call Invoice Cloud customer service at 781-848-3733.

3. What if this website is down or for some reason I am unable to use this site?

Please be aware that interest and fees will not be waived if this website is inoperable for any reason or if data entry errors occur. If the website is inoperable, payments can be made by mail, by phone in some locations or at the biller’s Office.

4. Who do I contact with questions about a bill?

If you are unable to find the information you need in your online payment history or open invoices, please call 978-674-4222 or contact the biller’s office.

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Treasurer - Using Invoice Cloud - Payment

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1. Can I cancel Auto-Pay?

Yes, simply go into your profile and uncheck the auto-pay box that you had previously checked when you elected to opt into Auto-Pay.

2. Can I change a scheduled payment?

Yes, as long as it is changed before the date it was scheduled to be paid.

3. Can I schedule payments?

Yes. You can set up a future payment at any time prior to the bill due date.  The only bills not allowed for scheduled payments are excise tax bills.  You may use AutoPay to have them automatically paid on the due date.

4. Can I still send in a paper check?

Yes, you can still pay by paper check. You may pay in person at the Treasurer’s office located on the first floor of City Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also by mail your check to:

City of Lowell
Treasurer’s Office
375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852

5. Can I tell if my payment has been posted?

Yes, simply login to your account and select “View paid or closed invoices”. If you are a registered customer, you will receive an email notification.

6. Can I use a credit card to pay my bill(s)?

Yes, you can. There is a convenience fee when using credit cards which varies based upon the type of card, type of bill and payment amount. The exact convenience fee amount will be displayed during the payment process prior to submitting the payment.

7. Can I use a debit card to pay my bill(s)?

Yes, although technically your debit card will be processed like a credit card, and you will not be asked to enter a pin number. The convenience fee is the same as credit cards, and it varies based upon the type of card, type of bill and payment amount. The exact convenience fee amount will be displayed during the payment process prior to submitting the payment.

8. Can I use more than one payment method per transaction?

Yes, if your biller accepts partial payments, you may use one payment method for part of the transaction and another payment method for other parts of the transaction.

9. Do I need to notify my bank or change bank accounts?

No, your current bank account (checking or savings) will work fine. So many payments are made electronically now that banks are already prepared for online payments. However, if you have arranged through your bank to automatically pay your bill, you need to contact your bank and discontinue the automated payment, otherwise you may pay your bill twice.

10. How do I change my account information?

Simply log into your account and change any of your personal information under the My Profile tab. If you are unable to change some of your information, you may need to call the biller and have them change it for you.

11. How long does it take for a credit card transaction to process if I pay online?

Credit card transactions typically take 48 hours to settle. An authorization is issued immediately; however, it takes 48 hours for the money to be moved.

12. How long does it take for an EFT (electronic funds transfer) transaction to process if I pay online?

EFT transactions typically take 48 - 72 hours to settle.

13. How long will my payment history be maintained?

18 months is the standard retention period.

14. How much does paying online help the environment?

Paying online is only half of the benefit, by going paperless and not receiving paper invoices, you can increase the effect you can have on the environment. There are several ways reducing paper consumption helps the environment, including saving trees and using less gas. According to the PayItGreen AllianceTM, if one in five households were to switch to electronic payments, statements and bills, we could collectively save 1.8 million trees each year and avoid using 103 million gallons of gasoline to mail bills, statements, and payments. If you’d like to be part of that one in five, just sign up to “go paperless” in your account under my profile, paperless options.

15. How should I enter my credit card information?

The information you enter on the payment screen must be exactly the same as it appears on your credit card. This information collected will be used to authorize your payment.

16. How will I know that my payment has been accepted?

After you submit your payment, you will see a payment confirmation screen. It will contain your payment confirmation message. It will show an approved number for credit cards or a processed number for electronic check. You will also receive a confirmation email after your transaction is submitted. The email will include your account number, invoice number, amount paid, and confirmation message. If your electronic check does not pass through the bank, you will receive an email informing you of the rejected payment. You may need to call your biller in order to pay again.

17. If I don’t have email can I still process an electronic payment?

No, to complete the online payment process, you will need an email address so that the system can deliver your payment confirmation. If you do not have an email address, you can obtain a free email account from any of the following services: yahoo.com, hotmail.com, or gmail.com.

18. I received an email stating “Thank you for going paperless,” but I did not sign up for paperless!

The paperless box is generally defaulted to enroll you in paperless billing because it helps the environment.

Option 1: Customer must click on “Complete paperless process” link within email to complete enrollment. If they do not, the paperless option will not be active and will drop off system within a few days.

Option 2: Customer can log into account and cancel paperless registration.
Choose >My Profile>paperless option>cancel paperless registration

19. I signed up for Auto-Pay but do not see any information under “My scheduled payments.”

The Auto-Pay date will not appear under scheduled payments. Auto Pay will be debited from the customer’s account on the due date.

20. May I pay my tax bill by credit card at the biller’s office?

Yes, we accept credit card payments in the office for tax bills and water bills only.  Convenience fees will apply the same as if paying online.

21. What are scheduled payments?

Scheduled payments are scheduled individually by you for each bill on your specified date. Scheduled payments that are intended to pay a bill in full are not recommended on bills with past due balances. As interest accrues daily, a scheduled payment will not pay accumulated interest from the time the payment is scheduled to the scheduled payment date thus leaving a balance on the bill. It is best to use the Auto-Pay option or manually pay the bill.

22. What are the costs for paying online?

There are no signup costs or subscription fees. The non refundable convenience fee when using an ACH transfer (electronic check) from your checking or savings account is $0.40 per transaction.

The non refundable convenience fee when using credit cards is a percentage-based or flat rate fee that varies depending on the card type and the bill you are paying. The convenience fee is automatically calculated based upon the type of credit card used and the dollar amount of the bill being paid and is shown on the payment page before you submit your payment for processing.

There are fees imposed by Biller / Invoice Cloud for returned payments, and your bank may charge you a fee based on the bank's fee schedule.

23. What forms of payment can I use?

You can pay by credit or debit card or you may issue an electronic check from your bank account (checking or savings). Please check your biller’s website for the credit and debit cards that are eligible.

24. What if I already have auto-pay or a scheduled payment set up with my bank?

You will need to contact your bank and cancel your automated or scheduled payment before the payment is due (typically payments are made a couple days in advance of the due date, so don’t wait until the last minute).

25. What information do I need to make a payment?

If you are registered, the only information you need to have available to complete a payment transaction is your email address and password. If you make a One Time Payment, then you will also need your bank account or credit card information and your account number.

26. What is a partial payment?

A partial payment occurs when only part of an invoice is paid and may apply if your biller has elected to allow partial payments. Please contact your biller’s office for more information.

27. What is a service or convenience fee?

A non refundable fee added to an invoice to cover various administrative costs associated with billing and accepting payment.

28. What is Auto-Pay?

If you elect to opt in to Auto-Pay, it means that your bills will be paid automatically on their due dates using your default credit card or bank account. This will avoid any late fees and free you from having to remember when to pay.

29. What is the difference between auto-pay and a scheduled payment?

Auto-pay is an automated process which pays your balance in full each billing cycle at 2 a.m. on the due date; scheduled payments are manually entered by you for the date you choose for each bill you choose.

30. When can I pay?

You can make payment or review your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is always a good idea to pay or schedule a payment at least few days before the due date to allow for processing time.

31. Which bills can I pay online?

You can pay current Utility bills, real estate, personal property, motor vehicle and boat excise tax and parking tickets.

32. Will I be able to print a copy of my bill?

Yes, each invoice is presented in PDF and HTML format. Electronic storage is recommended because it saves paper and has a beneficial impact on our environment.

33. Will I have online access to my account?

Yes, you will have 24 / 7 access to your account for invoice review and payment, payment history and customer service requests.

34. Why am I being charged a late fee?

If you feel that this fee has been assessed in error or you would like more information about late fee charges, please contact your biller’s office.

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Treasurer - Using Invoice Cloud - Security

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1. Are my credit card and checking account information safe when I pay online?

Absolutely. Invoice Cloud will safely store all of your financial information using Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliant systems. This includes truncating (abbreviating) account numbers so that even the Biller does not see your complete account information.

2. Is my information secure?

Invoice Cloud uses the highest standards in Internet security. Account information displayed within the customer and biller portals is truncated to protect confidential data. Any information retained is not shared with third parties.

3. What is PCI Compliance and why is it so important?

PCI stands for Payment Card Industry, and compliance with the industry standards is a requirement for those that accept the major credit cards and for software providers who have applications which involve the transmission and/or storage of credit card information. If breaches are found on systems that are not PCI compliant, the major credit card companies have the ability to levy significant fines on the offending parties.

4. Who has access to my account?

You and Biller’s authorized staff. No one will have access to your financial information as all check routing numbers and credit card numbers are truncated, so you never have to worry about security. As a security precaution, we don’t even show your full financial information back to you.

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Treasurer - Using Invoice Cloud - Using the System

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1. Can I use an Apple / Mac to use the service?

Yes, many customers use Macs.

2. Can more than one person pay bills online for the same account?

There are two ways that payment responsibilities can be shared. If the other payer is part of your household, you may choose to share your login information with that individual. In a situation where personal financial data is not shared, you may forward your email notification to the individual, who will then click on the “View or Pay Now” button and elect to make an express pay payment. They will need to enter their name, email address, address and payment information. They will receive the payment confirmation. You can verify their payment by viewing the invoices in your account.

3. Do I have to enter an email address to make a payment?

Yes, an email address is required for payment confirmation. A payment receipt is sent via email.

4. Do I need to register to pay a bill?

You may need to register to receive electronic bills by email, but registration is not required for One Time Payments. One Time Payments require that you enter your payment information each time you make a payment. By registering, you avoid that step and gain access to your payment history.

5. How does the system work?

It is very simple. Here are the 3 steps taken by customers:
1. Customer receives email notification or accesses account via the Biller website by clicking on the “View or Pay Your Bill” button.

2. Customer locates and views invoice and either enters payment information for a One Time Payment or registers to schedule a payment.

3. Customer receives an email confirmation with their payment amount and payment process date.

6. How do I find my account number to login?

Once you have registered, you will need only your email address and password to log in. To login the first time you use the system, you will need your account number or customer ID from your bill. The “locate your bill” screen gives instructions regarding the required information.

7. How do I register?

Registering is easy and can be done when you make a payment. There are two ways you can make a payment.

When you receive an email notification that your bill is ready to paid, simply click on the “View Invoice or Pay Now” button. You will be directed to Biller’s “Pay and/or View Bills Online” site, powered by Invoice Cloud. Once there, you will be given the opportunity to register or make a One Time Payment. If you choose to register, you will be asked to provide a password and accept the terms and conditions to use the system. The payment information you enter in your profile will then be securely encrypted and saved for your next visit.



You can go directly to the biller’s website and click on the “Pay or View your Bill” button. You will then be directed to the Biller’s “Pay and/or View Bills Online” site, powered by Invoice Cloud. Once there, you will need to locate your account and be given the opportunity to register or make an express payment. If you choose to register, you will be asked to provide a password and accept the terms and conditions to use the system. The payment information you enter in your profile will then be securely encrypted and saved for your next visit.

8. I cannot locate my bill. What can I do?

Please scroll down on the page to view the matching items at the bottom. Otherwise, try re-reading the instructions for the search criteria. You may be entering more than one search criteria for Real Estate or Personal Property bills, which may only require one out of two fields. Utility bills may require a service address as confirmation. It must be entered exactly as indicated on printed bill.

9. I forgot my Password, how do I find it?

You should click on “Forgotten Password?” at the bottom of the login screen. You will need your account number and email address to retrieve your password. If you’re unable to locate this information, you may call the Biller, and after verifying your identity, the Biller can provide you with the information.

10. What Browsers are supported?

- Windows: Safari 4, 5 - Chrome 10, 11 - Opera 10, 11 - Firefox 3.6, 4 - Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9

- iPhone and iPad: Mobile Safari 4x

- Apple / Mac: Firefox 3.6, 4.0 - Chrome 11 - Opera 10.x, 11 - Safari 4, 5

- Ubuntu (Linux): Opera 9.6 - Firefox 3.6

11. When I try to pay my bill, it asks for credit card information and I want to pay by electronic check.

Under “How would you like to pay” click on the drop-down box and choose EFT Check.

12. Will I receive a confirmation email that my bill has been paid?

Yes, you will receive a confirmation email.

13. Why should I register to pay a bill?

By registering, you have access to all of your invoices regardless of type and all of the features of the payment portal. These features include the ability to view all current invoices, see previous invoices and payment dates, update your profile information, access the online customer service system, go paperless (if bill type allows), schedule payments for a specific dates, and sign up for Auto-Pay. You also avoid having to enter your payment information each time you pay a bill.