The DeKalb County Trustee’s office will soon offer taxpayers the option of paying partial payments on their 2012 property taxes.
Trustee Sean Driver said that after two years of contemplation and research, his office will begin receiving partial payments for the 2012 property tax year on Oct. 1.
“I sent out a census to all the county trustees in the state, and they sent back the information on how they were doing partial payments,” Driver told the Review. “I compiled all that information and applied what I think will be beneficial to this county.”
County taxpayers will have the option of dividing the total bill into monthly payments, or the office will accept any amount the taxpayer wants to pay toward their balance.
“The first option allows us to take the total tax bill and divide it over two to five months,” Driver explained. “The tax season is from Oct. 1-Feb. 28, which is five months. At the same time if the taxpayer wants to pay $50 one month and $100 the next month, we’ll take it. It will be left up to the taxpayer, as long as the total is paid before Feb. 28.”
These options for partial payment may be utilized anytime during the collection period of Oct. 1, 2012 - Feb. 28, 2013 before penalty.
With many county taxpayers facing tight economic situations, Driver said that the new program should help alleviate the stress of paying property taxes in a lump sum.
“It allows elderly people and other people on fixed incomes to get some relief,” Driver said. “ It’s tough for people on a fixed income to come up with the entire amount at one time. Hard times are here for a lot of people, and I have been there myself, so I try to find ways to help people who need it.”
The plan, which has been submitted and approved by the state Comptroller of the Treasury’s office, does not include provisions for partial payment on any 2011 partial payment delinquencies.
If partial payments have been made, penalties will be assessed only against the unpaid balance.
If the total base tax is not paid on or before Feb. 28, penalties and interest will be applied on the remaining balance on March 1.
Partial payments may still be made after after the March 1 delinquent date, and taxpayers may continue to submit partial payments until those taxes are turned over to chancery court the following year.
Taxpayers who take advantage of the partial payment plan will be issued a receipt with showing the amount paid and the balance owed.
There will be no notification of  partial balances owed before the Feb. 28 deadline.
An agreement must be signed before partial payment is accepted that reminds the taxpayer that the payment being made is only a portion of the total, and that all delinquency dates still apply to unpaid balances.
Along with the new options, taxpayers may still pay taxes through the trustee’s office in person, by mail, online @ tennesseetrustee.com, or through the State of Tennessee Tax Relief Program.
Any questions may be directed to the local trustee’s office @ 597-5176, or in person at 732 Congress Boulevard-Room 103.