Property Tax Payment Procedure

Each year by October 25, the county tax collector sends out statements for taxes on each piece of property on the tax roll. As an owner of real or personal property, your statement will be mailed directly to you. If your taxes are paid by an agent designated by you in writing (such as a mortgage company), tax statement information is also sent to them. You must keep the tax collector informed of the correct mailing address to which your tax statement should be sent. Even if you do not receive a tax statement, you must pay your taxes.

Multiple statements

If you are assessed for both real and personal property, you will receive a tax statement for each. If you own and live in a mobile home and own the land on which it is located, you may receive two tax statements. One will show taxes on the mobile home. The other statement will show taxes on the land and permanent fixtures such as buildings, concrete slabs, sidewalks, patios, etc. These are referred to on the statement as improvements.

Payment Information

You may pay your property tax in one lump sum or in three equal installments. No statement is mailed to you for the 2nd and 3rd installement (February and May).

Due dates are:

November 15: First one-third payment
February 15: Second one-third payment
May 15: Final one-third payment

Tax of less than $40 cannot be paid in installments.Tax payments may be made in person to our office or mailed.Payment media options are check, money orderor cash. A payment drop box is provided outside our office door for use during non-business hours. Direct payment by credit card or electronic means is not possible at this time.Those using the payment envelope provided for the November 15th due date are processed by a check processing center.

Discount, interest, and liens

When you pay the full amount of your tax by November 15, you get a 3 percent discount. If you pay two-thirds of the tax by November 15, you get a 2 percent discount. However, the tax collector, by law, must credit your property tax payments to the earliest year for which taxes are due on your property. To get a discount on your current year's tax bill, all delinquent taxes, penalty and interest must first be fully paid.
The tax collector will apply the rest of the amount toward the current year's taxes only after your tax payment has been credited to any past outstanding taxes.
You will be charged interest for any payment made or postmarked after its due date. The interest rate is determined by statute. Interest accrues on the 16th day of each month after the tax is due.

Delinquent tax amounts will be defined by tax year on your current statement. Taxes on both real and personal property become a lien on July 1.

Ownership changes

If you are buying property on a contract, the tax statement will be mailed to the legal owner. However, the legal owner may request in writing that the tax collector may mail the statement to you. Ownership changes made after July 1 may not be shown on the tax statement sent in the fall. If you have bought property since July 1 and you do not get a tax statement by November 1, contact the tax collector for the amount owed. You must pay your taxes by the due dates to avoid interest and penalty. If you think you owe property taxes, but haven't received a tax statement, you may pay an estimated amount to the tax collector. When the actual amount is known, you may get a refund or owe additional taxes.