Missed Paying Your Tax Bills? Don ’ t Delay! Contact the Treasurer ’ s Office to Establish a Payment Plan
By: Orange County Communications Department
EXAMPLE FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY * Amounts Rounded
Bills for personal property and the second half of real estate taxes were mailed in September, and payments for those bills were due December 5, 2024. Those that missed the deadline should be aware that unpaid bills are now considered late and will be assessed a 10% penalty on the balance. Notices regarding delinquent bills have been mailed. While it is best to pay before the due date, it is important to promptly resolve unpaid bills to avoid further penalties. Interest is applied to a year ’ s unpaid bills beginning in January, and will reach 10% annually. By completing payment on those bills as soon as possible, those with
Amount Added:
Total Amount:
Original Bill Amount
$1,000
+ Late Penalty (10%)
$100
$1,100
+ Interest (10% applied to balance and initial late penalty), accrues monthly +Administrative Collection Fee (applied Feb. 1)
$9.17 monthly
$1,109.17 after first month
$25
$1,134.17
Total after 12 months
$1,235
outstanding tax balances can minimize the accrual of that interest and avoid the $25 administrative collection fee which begins in February. See the example for a demonstration of how taking care of unpaid bills quickly can reduce the impact of penalties. Furthermore, bills that remain unpaid may be turned over to collections or face other consequences such as liens or DMV stops. Those that have outstanding tax bills are encouraged to contact the Treasurer ’ s Office at (540) 672 - 2656. The Office can set up a payment plan to help ease the burden of catching up unpaid balances. A payment plan can also prevent some collection actions which can add additional fees to the unpaid tax bill. Want to avoid the lump sum impact of tax bills? Remember that tax prepayments are accepted. Prepaying can help spread the cost over a longer timeframe. Contact the Treasurer ’ s Office for details.
Page 6 | January 2025
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