2010 property tax collections will resume Tuesday morning at the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, and the good news is that taxpayers will have two additional days to pay the tax bills at their face value before the 5 percent penalty is added.
Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said that property tax collections had been put on hold by the state when he assumed office so that the books on the previous administration could be closed out.
Because the sheriff’s department was forced to close at least part of the day during the last two business days in December, Harrell said that state officials have agreed to give county residents two additional days to pay their property taxes at their face value.
"The revenue cabinet felt that this should be enacted. It’s kind of a forgiveness type thing because of the emergencies that arose that prevented them from collecting the taxes," Harrell said. "They felt like this would be a fair thing to do."
Starting on Thursday, Jan. 20, the 2010 property tax bills will have a 5 percent state mandated penalty added.
The five percent penalty period will be in place through Monday, Feb. 21.
Starting on Tuesday, Feb. 22, a 21 percent state mandated penalty will be added to all 2010 property tax bills.
The 21 percent penalty will be in place until the bills are transferred to the Whitley County Clerk’s Office on April 15. At that point more state mandated penalties are added.
