Paying taxes is never easy. As Tax Collector my job is to make that payment as painless as possible. For a number of years I have wanted to accept all major credit cards and customers have told me they wanted to pay by credit card, especially those cards which give rewards.     

Credit card companies charge a fee to businesses or governments who use their cards. That fee is based on the dollar amount charged. Since most property tax payments are large, the fee for each payment can be a significant expense.  Since most customers still use “paper” checks, the cost of taking credit cards would require additional tax dollars to provide a service which will not be used by most taxpayers.  To offset these costs, Florida law specifically provides for a convenience fee to be added to those transactions. Until recent years, Discover was the only credit card company that allowed this convenience fee. For many years Tax Collectors across the nation have worked to convince the other credit card companies to allow a convenience fee for each credit card payment. Unfortunately these efforts have not been completely successful.

However, most credit card companies are now allowing a limited use of convenience fees but only IF the payment is made through a "third party" such as over the internet or phone.  In 2001 we began offering credit card payments on our web site and through a special phone number. This year,  the convenience fee is 2.50% which is one of the lowest in Florida.  That convenience fee is added to your tax payment. All convenience fees are paid to the company which processes the credit card transactions.  Unfortunately the credit card contracts will not allow us to use a credit card, with a convenience fee, when the payment is made in person so we are still unable to provide that payment option in the office.  Hopefully this will eventually change.

I will continue to strive to offer you the most courteous, convenient and cost effective service possible.  Obviously, as technology and the marketplace change, this office will also change.  If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about credit cards or any way this office can improve our services, do not hesitate to let me know.