March 31 st is the last opportunity to pay 2011 Manatee County property taxes before interest, advertising charges and late fees are assessed. However, because March 31st falls on a Saturday, the payment period is extended through April 2nd provided the payment is received in one of our offices by 5 p.m. or paid online at www.taxcollector.com until 11:59 p.m. Mailed in payments must be postmarked by March 31st. Under Florida law, once taxes are delinquent, postmarks are not honored and partial payment of delinquent taxes is not permitted.
"There are two things taxpayers should not do – do not wait until the end of March to pay taxes in person and do not write a bad check,” said Tax Collector Ken Burton, Jr. “Returned check penalties are hefty and the taxes will still be unpaid as the due date is not extended. The quickest, easiest methods of payment are online at taxcollector.com using a credit card or e-check or by mail. When there is heavy customer traffic in the office, we sometimes have to limit how many payments a customer may make at one time."
Thousands of taxpayers have chosen to pay their taxes this year using the Tax Collector’s website www.taxcollector.com. There is no fee for online e-check payments (electronic debit to a checking account). Credit cards may be used for online payments with a convenience fee charged; credit cards are not accepted when paying in person or by mail. Taxcollector.com is updated daily so taxpayers can verify that their payment has been received and print receipts dating back to 1998. Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) are provided for guidance.
On April 19 th, an estimated 15,000 Delinquent Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Notices will be mailed to all property owners with unpaid 2011 property taxes {Section 197.343, Florida Statutes}. Property owners who pay their taxes after 5 p.m. on April 4 th will still receive a delinquent notice because of the time required to prepare bills for mailing. Delinquent payments must be received in the Tax Collector’s offices or paid online at www.taxcollector.com by 5 p.m. on May 30 th to qualify for the May amount due and to avoid the sale of a real estate tax certificate. Online payment of 2011 real estate taxes will not be available from 5 p.m. May 30 th through approximately June 10 th, to allow for the sale and balancing of tax certificates.
Florida law also requires Delinquent Personal Property Taxes to be advertised once and Real Estate Taxes to be advertised three times. If real estate taxes remain unpaid, tax certificates will be sold on May 31st at the annual Tax Certificate Sale conducted online at www.manateetaxsale.com. Bidders have the opportunity to pay the taxes at an interest rate determined by the auction and are issued a certificate. If the taxes remain delinquent after two years, those holding a two-year-old certificate can apply for a tax deed. If a tax deed is applied for by the certificate holder, and not redeemed by the date of tax deed sale, the property could be sold by the Clerk of Court’s Office to the highest bidder on their website: www.manatee.realforeclose.com.
Tax Collector locations are DeSoto - 819 301 Blvd. W., adjacent to the mall; Palma Sola - 7411 Manatee Avenue W., Suite 200; Lakewood Ranch - 6007 111th St E (off SR 70); and North River – 4333 US 301 N, Ellenton. For more information, visit www.taxcollector.com or phone 941.741.4800.
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