Published Friday, November 27, 2009 12:05 AM

Property taxes are due for some

Eagle Staff Report

Money is an unavoidable issue this time of the year as the holiday season hits, but Kristeen Roe has a friendly reminder that impacts your wallet: Pay your property tax bill by Monday.

The Brazos County tax assessor-collector said that's the deadline for taxpayers taking advantage of the split-payment option on their 2009 property taxes, which means they pay half the bill by Monday and the other half on or before June 30.

For those who opt not to make two payments, their full bill is due Jan. 31.

"The tax office is preparing for long lines of taxpayers waiting for the last possible opportunity to make their payment," Roe said, offering a few tips that will help get the bill paid with less stress and frustration:

* Bring tax statement or a list of the properties you wish to pay with you.

* If you are paying in person, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to the tax office, and plan for emergencies. The Texas Property Tax Code does not allow late payments for this deadline.

* There's a drop box inside the tax office for those in a rush, and a slot in the door of the property tax department for after-hours payments. Money orders, cashier checks or personal check payments can be placed in an envelope with account information and dropped off after 5 p.m. Payments dropped after midnight Monday will not qualify for the deadline.

* A timely payment by mail is determined by the U.S. Postal Service postmark. Taxpayers mailing payments on Monday are urged to take the payment inside their local post office to make sure it's stamped with Monday's date. A payment marked Dec. 1 will not qualify for the split payment.

Roe said another problem area for some is electronic payments generated through their bank.

"Taxpayers should remember that a check generated through their online account is still mailed to the tax office and will be posted according to the postmark -- not the date the check is initiated," she said.

The office accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express for payments.

Internet payments with a credit card and E-check payments can be made from the Web site: www.brazos

tax.org. Payments also may be made over the phone by calling 1-800-2paytax; callers will need a jurisdiction code, which is 5313 for Brazos County. A fee is applied to payments made online and over the phone.

For more information, call 361-4470.

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