The clock is ticking for county residents to pay their personal property and real estate taxes. With those taxes due Dec. 31, Laclede County Collector Toni Morris spoke with the Record about the details of paying them.
Tax statements went out Oct. 31, Morris said, and her office has had a lot of people in paying their taxes, with the number increasing as the month ends. She expected the time between Christmas and New Years to be busy.
She explained there were several ways to pay: at the windows of her office in the Laclede County Government Center (200 N. Adams Drive, Lebanon), through the silver drop box located at the Second Street entrance of the building, via the Laclede County Collector’s website, phone or mail.
A press release noted that the Laclede County Collector’s Office is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Dec. 24 and 25, and open Dec. 31. This method accepts cash, credit card, checks, cashiers’ checks, and money order payments.
For the secured drop box, the press release said residents can pay by check, cashiers’ check, or money order. If residents do not submit their statement with the payment via mail or drop box, Morris said, they should write the account number in the memo line.
To pay by phone, call (1-877-690-3729). The press release noted that for electronic payments, there is a processing fee.
When paying by mail, Morris said that to guarantee the payment is postmarked Dec. 31 (those submissions postmarked January, even if mailed earlier, counted as late), residents can have the post office postmark them directly.
The press release asked that bill-payers make sure their payment information is accurate before submission, as errors like incorrect total amounts and legal lines stop her ffice from applying the payment.
Morris noted that the Laclede County Commission previously decided that those already enrolled in the senior tax freeze/credit do not have to renew for the next year.
There is an area inside the Second Street entrance of the government center with information on the senior tax freeze/credit.
On the Laclede County Government Center’s website, there are links to information, the application, self-report/change form, and audit request for the senior tax freeze/credit.
Morris said on Jan. 1, any unpaid tax accounts get penalties and interest as set out by state statute. If residents do not get a tax bill she said, they are responsible for double checking in those situations, such as if their address changed.
Morris reminded people that lines may be longer at her office but to be patient, as they usually go quickly. Her office liked seeing everyone but knew it was not always fun to pay taxes.
Last year, Morris later wrote to the Record, the Laclede County Collector’s Office had collected around 93% of the tax bills by Dec. 31, which was about average.
The office had collected about 56% at the time of her writing on Friday, so they expected the remainder of December to be busy.
“And historically, most do wait until the last week to pay,” she wrote.
