Property tax deadline is just days away

Only a few days remain for property owners in Columbia County to pay their property tax bills.

All property tax bills must be received by Tax Commissioner Kay Allen's office, paid via the Internet or by telephone by Wednesday.

Letters that are postmarked by Wednesday but not received by that date will be accepted as late. Delinquent payments will be charged a penalty of 1 percent per month, with a 10 percent penalty levied after 90 days, Allen said.

Property owners cannot file for an extension to pay property taxes, and all property tax assessment appeals were due months ago, Allen said.

"It is in concrete and it is hardened," Allen said of due taxes. The tax commissioners office anticipates a record collection of about $77.2 million.

As of Nov. 6, the owners of 18,000 properties had yet to pay their property taxes, amounting to about $29 million, Allen said.

Overall, properties in the county's tax digest grew in value by an average of 10 percent, officials in the Columbia County Tax Assessor's Office have said. There are also about 2,100 new parcels of land in the county because of new construction and subdivisions.

Allen said, based on her 21 years in office, that eight to 10 percent of property taxes are usually delinquent.

Property owners can pay their taxes in person at the tax commissioner's office on Ronald Reagan Drive in the Evans Government Center or drop off their payment in one of two drop boxes on the government campus. Taxpayers can also pay by phone at 1 (866) 381-4893, or online at www.columbiacountyga.gov.

Online and phone payments are subject to a convenience fee.