GEORGETOWN, Del., Sept. 12, 2005 – The end of September is fast approaching, and soon that will mean a chill in the air, leaves changing colors and weekends filled with football.
It also will mean another rite of fall – the payment of tax bills in Sussex County.
County officials want to remind all Sussex County property owners that full payment of their tax bills is due by Friday, Sept. 30. Taxpayers who make their payments after that date will be penalized 1.5 percent per month on the unpaid balance.
Property tax bills were mailed out in early August.
“This is just a friendly reminder to the taxpayers that now is the time to get those tax bills paid,” said Joyce F. Lord, director of the Sussex County Treasury Division. “We want taxpayers to avoid any unnecessary penalties. The county benefits, and certainly the property owners benefit, by having tax bills paid on time.”
Sussex County accepts tax bill payments by cash, check, money orders or through Discover credit cards. Taxpayers have a number of different ways to make payment – through their lenders, by mail, on the Internet, over the telephone or in person.
Many taxpayers have their annual taxes paid by their mortgage lenders. A portion of their annual tax obligation is collected through each month’s mortgage payment, put into escrow, and then paid by the lender to the county when payment is due. If these taxpayers have any questions regarding the status of their escrow accounts, they should contact their respective lenders.
For taxpayers who will handle their tax bill payments personally, there are several convenient ways to do this. For those paying in person or by telephone, the Sussex County tax office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The office is located on the second floor, Room 252, of the County Administrative Offices building on The Circle in Georgetown.
Extended hours will be provided on Thursday, Sept. 29. The tax office that day will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
Payment also can be made on the Internet at sussexcountyde.gov/pay-your-bill.
Lastly, property owners can send their tax payments by mail, using the return envelopes included in their tax bills. Bills should be addressed to the Sussex County Treasury Division, PO Box 429, Georgetown, DE 19947. All payments sent by mail MUST BE POSTMARKED BY SEPT. 30 to avoid penalties.
Anyone with any questions should contact the Treasury Division during regular business hours at (302) 855-7760.