The Washington County Treasurer’s Office would like to remind customers of the option to pay semi-annual real estate tax bills online. Click on the link at the top center of the page and follow the instructions.
Tax bills may be viewed, printed and paid online. Online payments are immediately posted to tax accounts; and, receipt options include email or text message. A $2.00 convenience fee is applicable when paying online via checking account or debit card; and that fee is retained by our third-party service provider.
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Property Tax Payment InfoPayments for annual bills and the first installment for semiannual bills must be received on or before September 30th to avoid penalties and interest. The second semi-annual installment payment must be received on or before December 31st to avoid penalties and interest.
All taxpayers living in their principal residence pay their real estate property tax bills on a semi-annual schedule unless they choose to make both payments on or before September 30 of each year. Homeowners who escrow their tax payments may choose to pay annually, but must notify their lenders by May 1st of their intent to pay annually.
Homeowners who do not escrow taxes with a lender will receive a tax bill that will permit them to pay on either a semi-annual or annual basis. Semi-annual bills include two payment coupons, while annual bills include only one coupon. Payments on partial year levies (half year new construction assessments) are due 30 days after the bill is mailed.
Certain personal property taxes, taxes on residential rental units and taxes on commercial real property are not eligible for payment on a semi-annual basis.
Taxpayers have many options for paying their property taxes as follows:
Delinquent taxes are subject to interest and penalties at the rate of 1% per month until paid in full. Interest and penalties are calculated on the net amount of the bill, after any credits are applied. Delinquent taxes, including unpaid penalty and interest charges, will result in the sale of the property tax lien through a tax sale public auction process which is generally conducted in the month of June of the subsequent calendar year.
A tax sale will also occur if the taxpayer owes an amount equal to the interest and penalty, even if the amount of the tax bill has been paid. Accounts eligible for tax sale are listed for four consecutive weeks in a Washington County newspaper and are subject to an advertising fee. Property tax accounts taken to tax sale may be subject to additional legal costs incurred by the new certificate holder.