The Fall season often brings one of the busiest times of the year, with a General Election almost every November, plans for the holiday season and just as importantly, a reminder to keep property tax bills paid up for another year.
Clinton County Property Tax Bills began becoming due and payable on November 1, with many local residents receiving their bills in the mail at the end of last week.
Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Tax Administrator Randy Jones said the tax bills this year were mailed out on Tuesday, October 31.
The sheriff office, whose duties include collecting county property taxes, reminds taxpayers that if you do not receive your tax bill within the second week of November to please contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department at 606-387-5111.
It is also important to know that failure to receive a tax bill (via mail) does not relieve anyone of their obligation to pay the tax bill, nor does it waive the penalties and fees for late payment.
This year, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department is pleased to announce that taxpayers may view and print property tax bills and pay online by simply visiting the web page www.MyTaxBills.com. This service is available 24 hours per day for your convenience.
Jones noted the new online pay system, which will hopefully benefit a lot of taxpayers, especially those who own property in the county, but live elsewhere, encouraging them to take advantage of paying their bills on time and in the convenience of their own homes, businesses, etc.
As of last Friday, when tax bills began being received in mailboxes across the county, Jones and Sheriff’s Department Secretary Ocie Marcum were busy all day with people coming in to pay their tax bills, and Jones also noted that a few had already taken advantage of the online payment method
Jones did note during a brief interview with the Clinton County News last Friday that the first person to pay their taxes in the sheriff’s office was Clinton County Attorney Michael Rains.
Because of the newly announced online payment system, “a lot of people paid (online) before they got their bills in the mail.” He went on to estimate that taxpayers seemed to be paying early this year, estimating up to two percent of taxpayers who owe property taxes in the county had paid during the first few days since bills had been sent.
This is the first time that Clinton County property owners have had an opportunity to pay taxes online as opposed to either mailing their tax bills or paying them in person at the sheriff’s office.
Using the new online pay system is relatively quick and easy to access and taxpayers using that option can pay by either credit or debit card, or by personal check using their routing number on the bottom of the check.
They will also receive a printable receipt when the payment process has been completed.
Jones noted the office has been working on installing the new online internet payment system since this past February, as well as testing and tweaking the system to make sure it works properly.
The total number of tax bills that will be mailed to Clinton County property owners number 7,379 and amount to a total of $3,958,845.94 in property taxes owed.
Those numbers include both Clinton residents as well as out-of-county or state residents who own property in the county.
Although the new online tax payment system is provided as an option for taxpayer convenience, many taxpayers will still opt to use the old fashioned method of paying their bills by either bringing them in person or returning payment by mail.
Persons paying their property tax bills in person at the sheriff’s office will receive a receipt upon payment. Taxpayers can make in-person payments at the sheriff’s office during normal business hours.
When mailing in your payments, please include the bill and put the tax bill number on the method of payment (check or money order), made payable to the Clinton County Sheriff.
If you wish for a paid receipt be returned to you, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment(s).
The 2023 Tax Collection Schedule is:
* 2 percent discount if paid from November 1 through November 30, 2023;
* Face amount if paid between December 1 and December 31, 2023;
* 5 percent penalty if paid between January 1 and January 31, 2024;
* 10 percent + 10 percent add-on penalty beginning February 1, 2024;
Property tax bills will be turned over to the Clinton County Clerk’s Office at the end of the day on April 15, 2024.
Important Notice:
Payments made during the 10% penalty period, but prior to the bills being turned over to the County Clerk, are subject to an additional 10% sheriff’s fee. In addition to the 10% penalty, payments made after April 15, 2024 are subject to a 20% County Attorney’s fee and a 10% Clerk’s fee.
Anyone with questions about their property tax bills, method of payment or information about how to pay online can contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department at (606) 387-5111.