Tyler

By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer

Tax collections are up slightly, at least in percentage collected, ahead of the Thursday deadline to pay, Smith County Tax Assessor/Collector Gary Barber said.

Tax bills become past-due on Friday when penalty and interest will be applied.

"We've actually collected $240,000 less than this time last year, but we're 1.5 percent higher in collections, because the levy is lower this year due to school finance reform," Barber said.

Payments mailed must be postmarked by Jan. 31, Barber noted.

"That doesn't mean just dropping it in the mail on Jan. 31," he says. "It has to be postmarked, or the penalty and interest will kick in."

More information on tax bills can be found at www.smith-county.com.

Payments can be mailed or delivered to the tax office in the county's Cotton Belt Building at 1517 W. Front St.

The mailing address is P.O. Box 2011, Tyler, TX 75710-2011.

Payments can be in cash, check or by money order or credit card. Log on either to the county's new property tax Web site, or to www.certifiedpayments.net. Use bureau code 5350820. There is a convenience fee of 2.5 percent.

Users will be able to print out a receipt.

Property owners (whose mortgage companies don't escrow their taxes) who have not yet received a tax statement should contact the tax office.

"State law says you're still responsible for the taxes, even if something gets lost in the mail," Barber said.

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 Thursday 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.

TAX TIME: People wait in line Monday to pay their 2007 property taxes at the Cotton Belt Office Building before the Thursday deadline.
((Staff Photos By Tom Turner))