Property tax payments due Tuesday

Greene County Treasurer Shelby Meurer said an initial 5 percent penalty will be assessed for the first 30 days after the deadline. The penalty goes to 10 percent after 30 days.

There is an exception. A 10 percent penalty will be charged after the deadline, if the property owner has "back taxes" from a previous collection period, Meurer said.

The county treasurer said despite a tough local economy more county residents paid their full amounts early during the spring collection period.

"Actually a lot of people did pay in the spring because the taxes were somewhat lower this year so they went ahead and paid in the spring. We've had a lot of people who paid," Meurer told the Greene County Daily World on Thursday. "In fact, fall (collection) has been pretty slow up to this point. Even our mail, we've been keeping up with it every day."

The treasurer said her office is offering several options for making payments easier for property owners.

* Payments will be made in the treasurer's office, located on the first floor of the county courthouse in Bloomfield in Room 130.

* Payments can be mailed to the Greene County Treasurer's office, Courthouse, Bloomfield, Ind., 47424.

* Payments can be made at any MainSource Bank location in the county (Linton, Bloomfield and Jasonville) for no additional fee.

Meurer pointed out that you must have your tax bill with you and you can pay only the billed amount due -- either the spring installment or the annual amount due.

* Payments can be made online using the "Point and Pay" system. To pay online go to www.co.greene.in.us/treasurer and click on the payments page.

Taxpayers may use MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover credit cards or a debit cards to make the payments.

A 2.95 percent fee will be added to credit card or debit card transactions by the Point 'n Pay system and is not a charge made by the county, according to Meurer.

* Payments can be made by using an interactive voice response (IVR) system by calling toll-free 1-866-518-5303 and follow the voice prompts. This number is the customer service number for the Point 'n Pay system.

Meurer said information that is needed to make a payment online or by phone is the property parcel number (on your tax bill); debit/credit card number or checking account number; and the amount being paid.

The treasurer added, "If you have an address change you must submit that to the county auditor. We can not and do not make address changes."

For more information and to find answers to questions contact the treasurer's office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) by calling 384-4378 or toll-free 1-800-897-5378.