By Marianne Sullivan, Source Senior Staff Writer:
Residents will now be able to pay their tax bill online with a credit card, debit card, or electronic check.
The Board of Selectmen last week approved a recommendation from Tax Collector Alma Carroll to enter into an agreement with Official Payments Corp., a company that makes this payment method an option in approximately 80 municipalities in the state.
Taxpayers will be able to pay their real estate, motor vehicle, and personal property taxes online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week using this online service. For this ability, Carroll explained, they will be charged a three percent service fee by the company.
Carroll told the selectmen the town will receive 100 percent of the tax payment due. Years ago the town accepted credit cards for tax payments but discovered that it was responsible for the credit card companies’ processing fees.
“Over a short period of time we took in approximately $1 million in tax payments made with credit cards, but the town had to pay the service fees,” she said.
The Board of Finance decided to halt the program.
Under the program offered by Official Payments Corp., users will be told upfront that there will be an additional three percent service fee charged to the taxpayer, Carroll said.
“It is a convenience for residents,” she said. “We have many people each year who come in to our office asking if they can pay with a credit card.”
And because the online system can be accessed by a taxpayer 24/7, she added, residents don’t have to worry about getting to the Town Campus by 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Under questioning from the selectmen, Carroll said residents could pay all or a portion of their taxes by credit card or debit card, the payments are transferred to the town within 48 hours, the website itself is easy to use, and other municipalities in Connecticut are pleased with the service.
Yes, taxpayers can still pay with check in the mail or in person at the tax collector’s office.
With the second half of property tax bills due in January, the service is expected to be operational by then. Residents with questions can visit the town website (www.madisonct.org), where Carroll said additional information will be available, or they can call her office.