Tyler

By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer

Smith County property tax bills are in the mail, Tax Assessor/Collector Gary Barber reports.

“The tax statements were mailed from San Antonio earlier this week,” he said. “We’re starting to receive some phone calls, so I know they’re starting to hit mail boxes.”

Not all bills have been sent, however.

“So far we’ve mailed out the personal property tax statements, the real property, mineral accounts, agents and duplicate agents,” Barber says. “We haven’t sent out mortgage companies yet.”

Also, property owners in the Lindale school district will not see the Lindale school taxes on their bills. That’s because there’s a vote on the school district’s tax rate slated for Nov. 6.

“Those taxes will be billed after the November election,” Barber says.

A new item appears on many Smith County tax statements. The Emergency Services District No. 2 was approved by voters in November 2006 to provide a steady source of funding for 11 of the county’s volunteer fire departments. The initial tax rate of 8.5 cents per $100 of property valuation appears on the 2007 tax bills. The district includes all of Smith County not currently served by Tyler and Lindale fire departments. The city of Whitehouse is also excluded.
Thus far, 202,950 statements have been mailed.

“We still have another 20,000 (statements) or so to go,” Barber says.

The total being billed this year is $195.53 million — plus those Lindale school taxes still in question.

Tax bills were due upon receipt, Barber notes. Property owners have until Jan. 31 to pay with no penalty or interest.

Payments can be mailed (postmarked by those dates) or delivered to the tax office in the county’s Cotton Belt Building at 1517 W. Front St.

Payments can be in cash, check or money order or by credit card.

“Continuing this year, credit card payments can be made online,” Barber says. “You need to log on to www.certifiedpayments.net. Use bureau code 5350820, and there will be a convenience fee of 2.5 percent.”

Users will be able to print out a receipt good for income tax purposes. The money will be posted to their tax account three days after the transaction, Barber says.

“If your tax payment is mailed, it has to be postmarked by Dec. 31 to get credit for the 2007 tax year,” Barber adds.

Property owners who don’t see a statement soon should contact the tax office.
“State law says you’re still responsible for the taxes, even if something gets lost in the mail,” Barber says.

Penalties for late payment begin on Feb. 1, at 7 percent. That increases by 2 percent per month until July, when attorney fees are added, as well. Those fees are 15 percent of the tax bill; after that, another 1 percent is added per month until payment is made.

Elderly (over 65) and disabled residents qualify to make quarterly payments; no penalties or interest are assessed if payments are made on time (this only applies to homesteads). Paperwork must be filed and the first payment made by Jan. 31. For more information on this program, contact the tax office.

The tax office does accept partial payments on current and delinquent taxes, but those too must be made by Jan. 31 to avoid penalties for 2007.

The tax office telephone number is 903-590-2920. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.