As of Monday, January 26th the DeKalb County Trustee’s Office had collected 45.53% of the $7.5 million in 2014 county property taxes to be collected by February 28. That includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes.
Trustee Sean Driver told WJLE on Tuesday, January 27 that collections to date are in line with those of previous years which means February will be a busy month for the Trustee’s Office as taxpayers rush to beat the deadline. “Last year on this same date, January 26 we had collected 46.66% . We’re usually at this same level every year with about the same percentages. We are about to go into the month of February and we’re fixing to be busy. Just by looking at all the past years taxes have come in we’re due to collect about $3.5 million coming up. That’s collecting about half of the tax base in February alone.,” said Driver.
Saturday, February 28 is the last day to pay the 2014 property taxes before penalties start accruing March 1. Since the deadline falls on Saturday, Driver said the Trustee’s office will be open that day from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Trustee’s Office is also open regular hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday. “Remember, if the last day comes and you can’t make it to the post office to postmark your payment, we do have a drop box on the outside wall of the county offices section of the county complex. If you choose to use the drop box that weekend (February 28) we will gather the mail on Monday, March 2 from the drop box and no penalties will be applied to your 2014 tax bill,” said Driver.
Driver said you have four options for paying 2014 property taxes. “You can come by in person at the Trustee’s Office or you may mail in your payment. We also offer online bill pay at www.tennesseetrustee.com. You go to that website and select DeKalb County and then follow the instructions. Business Information Systems has set this up for Trustees across the state and there is a fee to use your debit or credit card. If you do pay online the fee to use your debit or credit card is 2.75% of your total tax bill. Or you can use an e-check for $2.50 on any total. Online accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. Business Information Systems collects the fees, not DeKalb County” said Driver.
“We are also accepting partial payments in any amount. Remember, whatever portion of taxes is unpaid for 2014 using the partial payment plan, only the portion left unpaid will accrue at 1.5% penalty and interest per month starting March 1. The office can still receive partial payments on 2013 delinquent taxes up until March 31” said Driver.
Any 2013 unpaid property taxes will be turned over to the Chancery Court on April 1 for collection. The Trustee’s office has collected to date 97.3% of the 2013 property taxes and will be sending out a notice to those still delinquent. “We are in the process of mailing out a reminder for those taxes that are left unpaid for 2013. We will be sending out those (notices) within the next week. If those taxes for 2013 are not paid before April 1 we will be sending that file to the Chancery Court on April 1. We can still receive partial payments on 2013 taxes up to that date,” said Driver.
The Trustee’s Office also offers the State of Tennessee Tax Relief. “If you would like to check on a possible tax relief for 2014, come and see us at 732 South Congress Boulevard, Room 103 or call us at 597-5176,” said Driver. ” The last day to sign up for tax relief is April 6.
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