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Karnes County's community newspaper
News
(last updated on November 1, 2006)
Tax statements are now in the mail
Local officials with the Karnes County tax office are reminding residents that there are now seven ways to pay their 2006 taxes.
The Karnes County Tax Office mailed 20,404 tax statements for 2006. Residents who own property described on the tax statement on January 1, 2006, are reminded that they are responsible for the taxes. Those who no longer own property are encouraged to return the statement to the tax office with the name and address of the new owner. Failure to receive a tax statement does not exempt the property owner from being assessed penalty and interest, officials said.
Options for payment of property tax bills
1. 1/2 payment or split payment (allowed for all current tax bills)
Pay ½ of total current tax bill no later than November 30, 2006
Pay second ½ of total tax bill no later than June 30, 2007 (no penalty & interest added)
2. 1/4 payment (allowed only for Homestead with over 65 tax bill)
Pay current tax on your home
Pay 1st fourth by end of January
Pay 2nd fourth by end of March
Pay 3rd fourth by end of May
Pay 4th fourth by end of July (no penalty & interest added)
3. Partial payment
Pay any amount; payments posted to tax bill(s)
(Penalty & interest added on balance left after January 31st)
4.Pay deduction
Employees of the County can have amounts automatically taken from payroll checks biweekly to be posted to their tax bill(s)
5. Escrow
Amounts can be escrowed to accounts to pay on future tax bill(s)
6. Credit Card
Credit card payments (Discover, MasterCard, and Visa) accepted. A convenience fee will be charged.
7. Online
Credit card payments (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover) accepted. Pay online at www.officialpayments.com or call 1-800-2PayTax. Phone payments use Jurisdiction cord 6323. A 2 ½% fee will be charged.
Taxpayers are reminded that the business hours for the tax office are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a drive through window and a night depository at the rear of the building for taxpayers’ convenience. If payments are mailed, please make sure that they are postmarked prior to the payment deadline to avoid penalty and interest.
Cancelled checks will serve as receipts. If a receipt is needed, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the tax office.
Taxpayers that have a mortgage company paying their taxes will receive a tax statement with a message that the original has been sent to their mortgage company. If a statement is received without this message and the mortgage company is indeed responsible for payment, taxpayers are asked to forward the statement to the mortgage company.
Questions concerning exemptions, value, change of address or owner of property, should be directed to the Karnes County Appraisal District at 915 S. Panna Maria, Karnes City, or call (830) 780-2433.
If taxpayers have any questions concerning methods of payments and payment deadlines, they should contact the Karnes County Tax Office at the Karnes County Annex building at 200 E Calvert Ste 3, Karnes City TX or call (830)780-2431. Tax office officials said their goal as employees of the tax office is to help taxpayers in choosing a payment plan that will meet taxpayer’s financial situations and prevent them from incurring penalty, interest and legal fees.