SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau announced Thursday that, beginning July 1, anyone who is delinquent in paying county/school real estate taxes can pay from their home or at any computer terminal using the Internet with a major credit card.
A "user friendly" system has been set up by the bureau to help collect back taxes and to help real estate owners avoid sale of their properties.
Jan Nestico, bureau director, explained how to use the service:
- Go to the county's home page at Northumberlandco.org
- Click on the "Pay Delinquent Real Estate Tax" button.
- Access your delinquent property taxes (delinquent tax information is "public knowledge" by law and will be accessible to anyone who uses the system.)
- Pay the amount owed using Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.
- Minimum fees apply - 2.75 percent convenience fee for credit card payment.
Taxpayers should know that down payments to begin a payment plan must be made in the tax claims bureau office. However, they will still have the option of paying online at home or coming into the office and using the public terminal to make monthly payments with a credit card. The staff will be available for assistance if necessary.
Taxpayers will have up to one week before an advertised upset sale to use the Internet-based payment for back taxes. One week prior to any sale, the site will be shut down. During that time, all payments must be made by certified check, money order or cash and all payment plans must begin at the tax claims office of at 399 S. Fifth St., Sunbury. Office hours are Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For questions regarding Internet-based credit card payments, call -988-4116.