Taxpayers have six more days to pay their 2007 real estate and personal property taxes if they want to avoid a 10 percent late fee. The deadline for paying property taxes is Wednesday.
County Collector David Ruff said he expects to collect the bulk of taxes just before or after the deadline.
“ The tighter the economy, the more this will happen, ” he said. “ It seems like the payments are a little bit later this year. ”
About half of the total collections are collected in October.
Teresa Soares, head bookkeeper in the collector’s office, said $ 45 million to $ 50 million in taxes should be collected in the next week and a half, while in September, the county collected just more than $ 12 million.
Last October, the county collected $ 43 million in tax payments.
Most people will wait until the last minute, she said, and there will be a lot of late payments.
“ I think there’s going to be a lot of people unable to pay their taxes on time, ” she said. “ Gas prices and stuff like that have really affected people being able to pay. ”
Those who do not pay on time can expect a 10-percent late fee, with 10-percent interest that accumulates for each year the payment is late.
Ruff said a lot of people operate a year behind. If their tax payment is $ 50, he said, they will wait a year and pay a $ 5 late fee. Most of the late payments are small amounts, he said, but there are a lot of them.
The county collected just more than $ 3 million in delinquent taxes in 2006.
Ruff said there are several options for paying taxes. Taxpayers can pay by cash, credit card or check at the Washington County Courthouse or at the Springdale office, or they can utilize the drive-thru or drop box on the corner of East Dickson Street and South College Avenue. The drive-thru is open from 8 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 10, and the depository is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Payments can also be made online at www. co. washington. ar. us with a credit card for a nominal fee or by e-check for $ 5. The collector’s office can be reached at 444-1526.
By SUSANNAH PATTON Northwest Arkansas Times
