Tax rolls for 2013 now open

St. Johns County Tax Collector Dennis W. Hollingsworth, CFC, is alerting all Historic City News readers to be watching their mailboxes as local property tax bills were sent via email and snail-mail yesterday, October 31st. All payments can be made, effective immediately.

The St Johns County 2013 tax rolls, which total $338,118,551 in taxes due, are now open for collection. This is an increase of $7,426,505 compared to the 2012 tax roll of $330,692,046, and includes notices for real estate, tangible personal property, railroad, and non-ad-valorem assessments.

“For the past 24 years, we have maintained a 99.3 percent, or greater, collection rate; with this year’s collection rate standing at 99.74 percent,” Hollingsworth told Historic City News. “Ultimately, this collection will allow all local taxing authorities to finance services for our citizens’ needs.”

Although all tax bills became due today, they are payable through March 31, 2014, without incurring a penalty. The greatest savings can be realized by those who opt to pay their taxes in November when they can get a 4 percent discount. The amount of the discount decreases by 1 percent, every month, until March 2014 — when bills must be paid and no discount is applied.

Hollingsworth pointed out that there are various methods of payment available to St Johns County property owners. Increasingly popular is online payment via the tax collector’s website, at http://www.sjctax.us. Online payments can be made via credit card or e-check. Payment can also be made by mailing a check or visiting one of our five office locations.

Anyone unable to pay their homestead property taxes should contact the St. Johns County Tax Collector as early as possible to determine eligibility for the Homestead Tax Deferral.

In addition to the mailings sent to property owners, 40,836 payment notices were sent to mortgage companies with escrow accounts. Property owners with escrow accounts should receive an “information only” notice detailing their tax status and stating, “THIS IS NOT A BILL-DO NOT PAY- YOUR BILL HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO YOUR ESCROW AGENT.”

Any questions regarding homestead exemptions and assessment disputes should be addressed to the Property Appraiser. Any questions regarding the individual taxing authorities’ millage rates listed on your notice should be addressed to those individual authorities.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions regarding your taxes or the operation of the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s office, Hollingsworth invites you to contact him by e-mail at taxcollector@sjctax.us.