Posted 2:21 am Friday, June 29, 2012
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Penalty Increase For Late Taxes After Monday
By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer
Residents have until Monday to pay delinquent property taxes or face an additional 15 percent penalty on the balance.
The deadline for property tax payments was Feb. 1. Penalties and interest for late payment began at 7 percent and have increased 2 percent per month since then.
Attorneys’ fees — 15 percent of the balance — will be added after Monday because July 1 falls on Sunday. Another 1 percent is added each month until payment is made.
Staff Writer
Residents have until Monday to pay delinquent property taxes or face an additional 15 percent penalty on the balance.
The deadline for property tax payments was Feb. 1. Penalties and interest for late payment began at 7 percent and have increased 2 percent per month since then.
Attorneys’ fees — 15 percent of the balance — will be added after Monday because July 1 falls on Sunday. Another 1 percent is added each month until payment is made.
The tax office does accept partial payments.
Smith County Tax Assessor/Collector Gary Barber said property owners with delinquent accounts should pay as much of the balance as possible because the 15 percent penalty applies to the balance owed.
The penalty for $1,000 would be $150.
“Pay what you can,” Barber said. “Try to reduce the balance so you don’t end up paying 15 percent on the entire balance. It really adds up.”
Payments can be made in person or mailed to the Smith County tax office at the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler. The tax office accepts cash, check, money orders or credit card payments. Mailed payments must be postmarked by midnight Monday to avoid attorneys’ fees.
Property owners also can post payments online by credit card or electronic check. A convenience fee of 2.45 percent of the balance will be added to credit card payments. A $1.50 fee will be added to electronic checks and can cover multiple payments on one account.
The website, www.smith-county.com, enables taxpayers to print receipts, and payments are posted to their account at that time, Barber said.
The tax office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Payments also can be made at a remote tax office in Lindale, 2616 S. Main St., during the same business hours.
Smith County Tax Assessor/Collector Gary Barber said property owners with delinquent accounts should pay as much of the balance as possible because the 15 percent penalty applies to the balance owed.
The penalty for $1,000 would be $150.
“Pay what you can,” Barber said. “Try to reduce the balance so you don’t end up paying 15 percent on the entire balance. It really adds up.”
Payments can be made in person or mailed to the Smith County tax office at the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler. The tax office accepts cash, check, money orders or credit card payments. Mailed payments must be postmarked by midnight Monday to avoid attorneys’ fees.
Property owners also can post payments online by credit card or electronic check. A convenience fee of 2.45 percent of the balance will be added to credit card payments. A $1.50 fee will be added to electronic checks and can cover multiple payments on one account.
The website, www.smith-county.com, enables taxpayers to print receipts, and payments are posted to their account at that time, Barber said.
The tax office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Payments also can be made at a remote tax office in Lindale, 2616 S. Main St., during the same business hours.
