Property Taxes Among County Council Discussions
Kosciusko County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell told the county council Thursday night that property tax bills are in the mail and, “We’re trying to make it as easy as we can for people to pay.”
Kosciusko County property owners should be receiving their property tax bills in the mail within the next few days. Property taxes for Kosciusko County will be due May 10 and Nov. 12 for 2012 payable 2013 tax payments.
The county is expected to receive $72 million in current property tax payments, “But there is one glaring issue,” Mitchell added, “and that’s our mobile home tax collections.”
In 2012 the county should have collected $307,000 in mobile home taxes but we have $106,000 that is still outstanding from last year. Part of the problem is the age and maybe even locations of the mobile homes. Mitchell explained some of the mobile homes may be vacant and/or abandoned, others may have been moved.
A remedy available to the county, which has not been done before, is to take possession of the mobile homes that are delinquent and the units be sold. In speaking with managers of mobile home parks in the county, Mitchell said there is some interest in working with county officials to clear out those vacant units.
Councilman Bob Sanders complimented Mitchell for her hard work in looking into the county’s tax issues.
Property taxes may be paid at the courthouse in the Treasurer’s Office, located in Room 215. There is a ground level entrance on the west side of the courthouse. There will also be an outside drop box for tax payments outside the courthouse as soon as the weather breaks. The box will be installed on the west side of the courthouse and will be monitored by surveillance cameras.
Tax payments may also be mailed to Kosciusko County Treasurer, P.O. Box 1764, Warsaw, IN 46581. Spring payments must be postmarked by May 10. If mailing on May 10, it is important to have the post office hand cancel the envelope with the postmark date to avoid late penalties. Property taxes received with a May 11 or later postmark are subject to penalties.
Taxes may be paid at any branch of the following banks: Crossroads, Campbell & Fetter, PNC, Mutual Federal, Tower Bank, Lake City and Farmers State Bank.
Taxes may also be paid online with a credit card or debit card at www.kosciuskotax.net with a 2.95 percent convenience fee. Credit and debit cards may also be used by phoning 1-800-809-5849 with a 3.95 percent convenience fee. Credit and debit cards may also be used in the Treasurer’s Office with a 2.95 percent convenience fee.
Again this year, the TS1 form has been mailed with the tax bills. The TS1 provides information on the property’s assessed value, exemptions/ deductions, ditches as well as a comparison to the prior year’s property tax obligation.
This year there is no pink Homestead Credit verification forms mailed with the property tax bills. Taxpayers are entitled to one Homestead Credit in the state of Indiana as evidenced by voting location, income tax filing location and vehicle registration location. Homestead credit forms do not need to be re-filed annually.
If taxpayers are currently receiving a Homestead Credit on their property, but should not be, they MUST contact the Auditor’s Office to avoid penalties. Taxpayers who need to file for the Homestead Credit or any other exemption should contact the Auditor’s Office at Room 220 in the courthouse, 100 W. Center St., Warsaw, or call 574-372-2316.
Mitchell reminds taxpayers that tax information is available at the Kosciusko County website by selecting “Beacon Online Mapping” in the left margin. 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.
Taxpayers with questions reference their tax bills may contact the Kosciusko County Treasurer’s Office at 574-372-2372.