Busy day for county tax collector’s office

By noon today, Don Wester tells Historic City News that he expects to be very busy assisting taxpayers who have waited till the last minute to pay their real estate and tangible personal property taxes before the end of November.

Wester has been stationed at the driveway by St. Johns County Tax Collector Dennis Hollingsworth; where he has stood each year for the past seven or eight years from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Hollingsworth added the drive-up service as a convenience for those who preferred not to park and come inside the office; so long as they were paying by check and did not need an immediate receipt. A fortified collection box is in place for those times when the drive-up is unattended.

According to Hollingsworth’s office, about 100 drive-up customers will be served today, however, the clerks inside will be busily opening and posting 12″ or more of payments from mortgage companies and others who sent their tax payments by FedEx or other overnight courier.

Although everyone associates November 30th with “tax day”, Hollingsworth said that all St. Johns County taxpayers actually have until December 2nd, to remit their payment to his office and still receive the maximum 4% discount.

Real estate and tangible personal property taxes for 2009 are delinquent if they are not postmarked before March 31, 2010. Taxes paid this month are eligible to receive a 4% discount, 3% if paid by December 31st, 2% if paid by January 31st, and 1% if paid by February 28th. Discounts are determined by the postmark of the payment for all payments not made in person.

Hollingsworth’s office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Photo credit: © 2009 Historic City News staff photograph