Where should you never apply a tax overpayment?

Applying a tax overpayment to the "Amount to be Raised by Taxation" is not permissible because this figure directly corresponds to the amount needed to fund the municipal budget for the upcoming year. When municipalities adopt their budgets, they determine a specific amount that needs to be raised through taxation. An overpayment, by its nature, indicates either an asset to the taxpayer or a discrepancy in billing—applying it directly to the amount to be raised would distort the budgetary process and potentially mislead taxpayers regarding future tax obligations.

In contrast, the other options listed typically involve managing funds for different purposes. The General Fund encompasses the basic operations of the municipality, while the Deficit Reduction Fund is specifically designed for addressing outstanding deficits. The Capital Improvement Fund is allocated for long-term capital projects and improvements. Each of these funds serves distinct functions in municipal finance, making them more appropriate recipients for any excess funds, including overpayments, when compared to the amount that needs to be raised through taxation.