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Payment plan soon an option for property taxes

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By MIKE SALINERO and KRISTA KLAUS

The Tampa Triibune/News Channel 8

Published: August 4, 2009

TAMPA - Hillsborough County residents who think they will have trouble paying their 2009 property taxes can make partial payments starting in November.

The Florida Legislature passed a bill in March giving county tax collectors the option to accept partial payments. Hillsborough Tax Collector Doug Belden agreed to adopt the program, saying it's another way to help struggling homeowners during the economic crisis.

"This is for the person that says, 'Oh, I've lost my job' or 'I'm not making as much as I used to; I'm going to lose my house,'" said Charlotte Luke, the tax collector's director of processing operations. "We're saying, 'OK, we can set you up with a payment plan.'"

Payments must be at least $100 and the tax bill must be paid in five payments or less. Each partial payment must include a $10 processing fee payable to the Tax Collector's Office. Delinquent taxes are not eligible for partial payments. Bills must be paid in full by March 31 to avoid late charges.

The partial payment plan is not to be confused with an existing plan that allows property owners to pay their taxes in four quarterly installments starting in June. Taxpayers who use the installment plan get discounts on their first three installments of 6 percent, 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively. They don't have to pay processing fees.

To use the installment plan, the property owner must be preapproved by the Tax Collector's Office between November and April before making the first payment in June.

For information, call the Tax Collector's Office at (813) 635-5200 or go online to www.hillstax.org.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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