By Sue Loughlin
TERRE HAUTE — Vigo County property tax bills for 2007 payable 2008 should be mailed within the next 10 days, and the first installment is due Sept. 5, the Vigo County treasurer said Thursday.
The second installment will be due Nov. 10.
Tax information has been sent to the printer, and “the vendor is doing his best to get [the bills] in the mail by Aug. 8, but it could possibly be Aug. 11,” said Dave Crockett, treasurer.
In addition to the property tax bill, taxpayers will receive a second sheet of paper that compares last year’s tax rates and taxes to this year’s. The form, prescribed by the state, shows how the tax bill was calculated.
It includes a “special message” to property owners that says: “Due to recent property tax legislation, taxes for most homeowners have decreased substantially compared to last year. These reductions result from a large increase in state property tax relief passed by the General Assembly in March 2008.”
Crockett cautioned that when taxpayers make payments, they need to use the remittance coupon on the tax bill. One is for the spring installment and one is for the fall installment.
“It has information on it that we need in order to make sure their taxes get applied properly,” he said. Banks can accept only the original coupon.
Payments can be made at the Vigo County Treasurer’s office in the Vigo County Annex, or mailed to the treasurer, 191 Oak St., Terre Haute, IN 47807. Also, taxpayers can use an envelope provided with their tax bill that goes to a processing center in Indianapolis.
In addition, payments can be made at any bank in Vigo County.
Taxpayers also can pay online by credit card. They should go to www.vigotax.net, or they can call the following number to pay by credit card: 1-800-809-5849.
Taxpayers can view how much they owe in taxes this year online at www.vigocounty.org, then click on the square that reads “tax info.” A square on the right that says “pay taxes” will take people to vigotax.net.
The treasurer’s office will be open extra hours in late August and early September to accommodate taxpayers. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the treasurer’s office will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The treasurer’s office also will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 2-5.
Paying after Sept. 5 carries penalties.
If a property taxpayer does not have delinquent taxes, the penalty for paying late is 5 percent for the first 30 days. After 30 days, the penalty is 10 percent, Crockett said.
If a taxpayer has delinquent taxes, the penalty is 10 percent for paying late.
State law says the due date must be at least 15 days after the tax bill is sent. The Sept. 5 deadline gives taxpayers about a month, Crockett said.
The “spring” taxes due date has been delayed again this year because of a new assessment requirement for “trending” property to market value, which now occurs annually.
“For all practical purposes, the May 10 tax due date is a thing of the past,” said Jim Bramble, county auditor.
He believes the Indiana General Assembly will have to adapt to a new timeline for property tax bills.
Bramble noted that property taxes for homeowners will be significantly lower this year than they were last year because of property tax relief provided by the Legislature.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
