Property tax notices mailed November 1 and the property tax roll is officially open for collection. You can now pay property taxes via mail, drop box, online or by visiting a tax collector office. If you haven’t received a physical tax notice, notices can also be accessed online at BayTaxCollector.com. Accounts can be searched by property owner, address, or property tax account number.
Each property tax season the tax collector’s office answers a multitude of questions regarding tax notices and due dates. In an effort to answer some of those questions proactively, here is additional information about how Florida bills and collects property taxes.
Escrowed Properties. If a property has a mortgage, the mortgage company requests the tax notice from the tax collector’s office and is required by Florida law to pay the property taxes in November during the 4% discount period. The property owner will receive a courtesy copy of the tax notice with the specific notation “this is not a bill”. If your property is escrowed, please do not send in a payment to the tax collector’s office.
Non-escrowed Properties. If a property does not have a mortgage, the property owner will receive the tax notice. Property owners have until March 31, 2023 to pay the property tax bill without penalty. However, paying the property taxes early does provide discounts. The discounted amounts are noted on the property tax bill based on the payment deadline. Please only pay the amount due for the month in which you are paying your property taxes. To receive the discounted amount, the payment must be postmarked or received in the tax collector’s office by the payment deadline. Payments not received by the deadline are returned.
If a property owner pays online, the online amount due takes into account the current discount period.
Installment Plan Participants. Property owners enrolled in the Installment Plan, will receive their third installment notice in December and payment will be due December 31. The final installment notice will be mailed in March and due by March 31. Installment payments can be made online at BayTaxCollector.com.
How to Enroll in the Installment Plan or Sign-Up for E-Bills. The easiest way to sign-up for electronic billing or to enroll in the Installment Payment Plan for 2023 is online. Visit BayTaxCollector.com, click the Pay/Renew Taxes & Plates link in the middle of the page. Once you are on the Property Tax site, search for your property tax account. Links to ‘Get bills by email’ and ‘Enroll in Installment Payment Plan’ should be visible. Simply click the desired link located next to your account to get started.
Convenience Fees. Each year customers contact the tax collector’s office frustrated that additional fees are charged for using debit and credit cards. Unfortunately, this is not something the tax collector has control over. Florida law requires the tax collector to pass on any payment processing fees directly to the customer choosing to use the service. The processing fees are charged by the card processing vendor and are paid directly to the vendor, the tax collector does not retain any portion of those fees. Processing fees are charged on debit and credit cards used in person and online. However, customers can pay in-person and online with a check and no processing fees are charged. Crypto currency is also another online payment option.
As you prepare to pay your property taxes, the tax collector’s office would like to remind property owners that November and December are the heaviest months for lobby visits. Please expect a wait if you plan to pay your taxes in person. Also, please keep in mind that if you pay online with a check all you need to have handy are your routing and account numbers. No processing fees are charged for those who choose to pay online with an e-check. Paying online ensures you know your payment has been received and your property tax discount has already been calculated into the amount due.
Please visit BayTaxCollector.com for more information related to property taxes and the other services provided by the Tax Collector’s Office.
