Georgetown, Del., July 31, 2012: Sussex County’s 2013 tax bills are on their way to property owners the next few weeks, and they include a summer treat for taxpayers.

Beginning the first week of August, the County’s Treasury Division will start issuing tens of thousands of annual tax bills for the 2013 fiscal year, totaling an estimated $110 million in revenue. Bills will be issued throughout the month of August, both by standard mail and electronically. Payment is due by Sept. 30, but will be accepted through Oct. 1 since the deadline falls on a Sunday.

This year’s tax bills include a one-time credit on the County portion of the statement for those property owners who are current on their payments. The credit, approved by County Council last year following a budget surplus, represents a nearly 8 percent reduction in the County property tax; it does not apply to the school portion of the bill.

The County once again will reduce the number of bills it prints and mails, to just under 125,000 paper copies. The remaining 36,200 bills will be sent electronically to mortgage lenders, requiring no paper or postage. That will save the County an estimated $16,281 in costs.

Amanda M. Bennett, director of the County’s Treasury Division, said property owners can view their tax bills online, and those who no longer receive a statement still can request a paper copy of their account’s status, if needed.

“Paying taxes is not something anyone likes to do, but we are always working to make this as easy and painless a process as possible,” Ms. Bennett said.

Annual tax bills include County property taxes, County sewer and water, tax ditch and street lighting fees, where applicable. Additionally, tax bills include local school district taxes, which are collected by the County, but turned over to the State. Delaware law requires Sussex County to bill property owners for school taxes on behalf of the eight public school districts. Roughly 10 percent to 14 percent of the typical residential tax bill is for County property taxes.

Sussex County accepts tax payments by cash, check, money order or credit card. Taxpayers have different options to make their payments. These include:

THROUGH LENDER

Many taxpayers have their annual taxes paid out of an escrow account by their mortgage lenders. If these taxpayers have any questions regarding the status of their escrow accounts, they should contact their lenders.

ONLINE

Payment can be made on the Internet, with the use of most major credit cards or by check. Go to sussexcountyde.gov/pay-your-bill for more information. Beginning this year, the County has reduced the online transaction fee from 2.5 percent to a flat $1 charge to encourage more online payments.

BY MAIL

Property owners can mail their tax payments using the return envelopes included in their statements. Bills should be addressed to the Sussex County Treasury Division, PO Box 429, Georgetown, DE 19947. All payments sent by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 1 to avoid the 1.5 percent penalty, per month, on unpaid balances.

IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE

The County’s tax office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The office is located on the second floor, Room 252, of the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown. Tax payments also can be left in the office’s after-hours drop box located in the lobby. For more information, call (302) 855-7760.

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