Property Tax Billing and Collection

Property tax bills are prepared and mailed generally around December 10^th of each year, following the completion of the annual City budget process (What Does My City Tax Bill Pay For?).

Questions regarding the assessment of your property, including assessed or fair market value, recent sales prices, last time the property was assessed, are best answered by the Assessor’s office.

Recent tax and assessment data for City properties can be found by clicking the Tax Bill Information Opens a New Window.  link, and following the onscreen instructions.

Real Estate Tax Billing and Collection

• May be paid in full by January 31^st.
• If using the Installment Method:
  • 1^st Installment is due to the City of Brookfield by January 31^st.  
  • 2^nd installment is due to the Waukesha County Treasurer by July 31^st.  
    • Mid-June the Waukesha County Treasurer will mail statements.
• AFTER January 31^st payments will not be accepted at the City of Brookfield Treasurer’s office.
  • Payments must be made to Waukesha County Treasurer.
• More information is available:
  • Real Estate Tax Insert 
  • Back of the tax bill
• Note: Failure to pay at least the 1^st installment of a real estate tax bill by January 31^st, makes the total tax bill due and payable, and subject to interest and penalties.

Personal Property (Business) Tax Billing and Collection

• Should be paid in full by January 31^st.
• Note: If bill is not paid in full by January 31^st, penalties and interest accrue at 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance due.
• Any business entity that received a personal property tax bill, and has discontinued doing business or changed their location, should contact the City Assessor’s office at 262-796-6649 or email at assessor@ci.brookfield.wi.us.
• More information is available:
  • Personal Property Tax Insert 
  • Back of the tax bill

Acceptable Forms of Payment

Online (This option is for Real Estate Tax Bills Only. Not available for Personal Property Tax Bills.)

• Payment types accepted: Credit cards and electronic checks via the Pay Your Tax Bill Online link.
• Note: Credit card transactions are 2.39% fee, with a $1.50 minimum transaction fee.  Electronic check transactions are $1.50 per E-Check, $10 for transactions $10,000 or greater.  Debit Card transactions are $3.95. 

City Hall 24 Hour Drop Box 

• Note: After January 31^st Drop Box is for Personal Property (Business) Taxes Only
• Payment type accepted: Check
• Location: Brookfield City Hall east parking lot adjacent to Brookfield Central High School
• Emptied Monday-Friday at 7:45 a.m. and will be processed as of the prior business day.

In Person

• Note: After January 31^st In Person is for Personal Property (Business) Taxes Only 
• Payment type accepted: Cash or check
• City Hall is open Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Other Tax Billing and Collection Bodies

• The City of Brookfield collects property taxes for the City and 5 other taxing bodies: 
  • Elmbrook Opens a New Window.  or Waukesha Schools Opens a New Window.  (dependent on location of property)
  • Waukesha County
  • Waukesha County Technical College
  • State of Wisconsin
•  Opens a New WiInstead of paying separate bills to each governmental unit, the levies from all these entities are combined into one bill.  After tax collection the money is divided, and each taxing jurisdiction receives its share.

Lottery and Gaming Credit for Homeowners

Wisconsin law provides a lottery and gaming credit to owners of a home in Wisconsin who use the home as their primary residence on January 1^st of the year in which property taxes are levied.  Primary residence is defined as the home where an individual lives more than six months of the year.  

The lottery and gaming credit varies from year to year depending on monies available from the state lottery.  

The 2022 lottery credit is $208.50 for most Brookfield taxpayers.  

If the most recent tax bill for your property did not show a lottery credit and you feel it should have, please contact the Waukesha County Treasurer Opens a New Window. .  

A list of frequently asked questions regarding the lottery and gaming credit is available from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Opens a New Window. .

First Dollar Credit

Wisconsin law provides a first dollar credit to all improved parcels within the state.  The first dollar credit for most improved Brookfield parcels for 2022 is $63.52.

Helpful Information

Please include the tax key number (7-10 digit number preceded by the letters BRC in the upper right hand corner of the bill) on the memo line of your check.

Copies of paid Real Estate property tax bills are available online by clicking the Tax Bill Information Opens a New Window.  link and following the onscreen instructions.

Questions regarding your property tax bill should be directed to the Treasurer’s office at 262-796-6640 or via Email Opens a New Window. .