By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
Four simple words to remember after the Christmas holiday is over - pay your property tax. Property owners in Escambia County have until Saturday, Dec. 31 to pay without any fees, penalties or interest on their property taxes.
According to Tax Collector Joy Wiggins, tax notices were mailed at the end of September. The county received 18,671 bills for a collective total of $10,215,143.13 for property taxes.
Wiggins said from the Atmore office that the girls in the office have been working real hard to keep the mail flowing.
In order to avoid fees, penalties or interest, Wiggins reminds property owners that the deadline ends on a Saturday, but payments will still be considered on time if they are post marked by Dec. 31.
Wiggins said that land owners are billed for property taxes which becomes due Oct. 1 and then becomes delinquent if paid after Dec. 31.
Of the notices mailed at the end of September, 16,990 went to property owners and 1,681 notices were for mortgaged property. The taxes assessed on non-mortgaged property totaled $9,547,153.89, while taxes assessed on mortgaged property totaled $667,989.24.
Wiggins said that everyone has tried to keep up with the property owners who have said ‘hey, I've sold this property, you need to contact the new property owners.' One thing she said would be helpful is to contact the Tax Assessors office and be sure they have the right address.
If you are a property owner and you fall into this category, contact the Tax Assessor's office at 867-0302.