Penalties On Spring Taxes Waived For 60 Days
WARSAW – The pandemic has thrown a wrinkle into paying property taxes this spring.
Kosciusko County property tax bills are scheduled to be mailed Wednesday, April 8. Property taxes for spring will be due May 11, and fall taxes will be due on Nov.10 for 2019 payable 2020 tax payments.
Governor Eric Holcomb has ordered counties to waive penalties on payments made after May 11 for a period of 60 days. This waiver does not apply to tax payments which have been escrowed by financial institutions on behalf of property taxpayers.
Since the treasurer’s office is closed to the public until April 17, all taxpayers at this time are encouraged to mail in their payments or drop your payment in the brown drop box outside of the west door of the courthouse, said County Treasurer Rhonda J. Helser.
Helser is urging taxpayers to pay through the following options:
By mail – Tax payments may be mailed to Kosciusko County Treasurer, PO Box 1764, Warsaw, IN. 46581. Your cancelled check will be your receipt.
By drop box – There is a brown drop box on the West side of the courthouse which is accessible from the sidewalk. The treasurer’s office will accept tax payments up until the 60-day grace period given by Governor Holcomb, July 10, 2020, due to the Executive Order#20-005 dated March 19, 2020.
Banks – The listed banks do this as service to the taxpayers of Kosciusko County and do not have the authority to make changes to the tax bill amounts. Taxes may be paid if no prior delinquencies at 1st Source Bank, Crossroads, Campbell & Fetter, First Federal Huntington, Horizon Bank, Lake City Bank, Mutual Bank and Old National Bank. Please take the entire statement so they may validate a receipt for you.
Online or by Phone – Taxes may be paid online with a credit card or debit card at www.kcgov.com by selecting “pay taxes” under the menu. These payments are subject to a convenience fee. Credit and debit cards may also be used by phoning 1-(866)-480-8552, 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. CST Monday through Friday with a convenience fee. The convenience fee is retained by the credit card vendor. No part of the fee is retained by Kosciusko County.
Along with the tax bill, property owners will receive a TS1 form. The TS1 provides information under “special message” on the property’s assessed value, exemptions/deductions and ditches as well as a comparison to the prior year’s property tax obligation and a breakdown of where property taxes go. It is a great source of information that can be used to evaluate and compare property tax status from year to year. The form will allow you to verify that you have the appropriate deductions.
Helser reminds taxpayers that tax information is available at the Kosciusko County website at www.kcgov.com by selecting “Beacon Online Mapping.” Taxpayers may view real property, personal property and mobile home property tax information, real property record cards and maps as well as other pertinent information related to the property.
Only one tax bill is mailed each year which includes both the spring and fall installment coupons. Those who have a mortgage escrow to pay taxes you will get a tax bill copy with the words “In Escrow” typed across it. Please note that if you paid off your mortgage and no longer escrow, check with your mortgage company to verify who is responsible to make the payment.
Taxpayers with questions can contact the treasurer’s office at 1-(574)-372-2370.