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- Ways To Pay Property Taxes
- Alternative Payment Options
Property tax year runs every January 1st - December 31st each year
It is the responsibility of each taxpayer to ensure that taxes are paid, regardless of whether a tax notice is received or not.
- If you do not receive a tax bill in November, contact our office at 727-464-7777 or search our online database for your bill.
Taxes become delinquent on April 1st, at which time interest and other applicable costs are added to the gross tax amount.
What gets taxed?
- Real estate property taxes
- A tax on land, building, and land improvements
- Considered ad-valorem, meaning “according to worth”
- Based on the value of the property, as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser
- Each property is assigned a unique parcel number
- Revenues collected are distributed to the local taxing authorities (cities, county, school board, etc.)
- Tangible personal property taxes
- A tax on furniture and equipment located in businesses and rental properties
- Considered ad-valorem, meaning “according to worth”
- Based on the value of the furniture and equipment located in businesses and rental properties, as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser
- Non-ad valorem assessments
- Set amounts established by the taxing authorities typically collected for storm water utility, street lighting, fire and rescue, solid waste collections, and similar functions.
- Not based on the value of one’s property
What is the difference between the property appraiser and the tax collector?
- The property appraiser…
- Assesses and determines property values
- Prepares and sends the list of taxable property to the tax collector
- Maintains current ownership and mailing address info
- The tax collector…
- Collects and distributes property taxes to taxing authorities
- Annually mails tax notices to property owners
- Dependent upon the property appraiser address information on file – the tax collector’s office does not maintain or update addresses
Ways to Pay Property Taxes
- Online – Pay now!
- FREE eCheck* – Send payment directly from your bank account, free of charge.
- eChecks are not accepted for delinquent property taxes.
- Credit or Debit Card – A convenience fee of 2.95% of the transaction total with a minimum of $2.50 is charged by our third-party payment processor, Grant Street Group.
- FREE eCheck* – Send payment directly from your bank account, free of charge.
- Your tax bill is considered paid as soon as you submit payment and will reflect as paid on the Pinellas County Tax Collector’s online system.
- However, it may take up to five (5) business days for your bank to process and reflect online payments.
- By Mail with a Check
- Please make your check payable to:
Charles W. Thomas, Pinellas County Tax Collector
P.O. Box 31149
Tampa, FL 33631-3149
- Property taxes must be paid in full, at one time (unless on the partial payment plan)
- Multiple checks must be sent in the same envelope
- Check writing tips:
- Write your account # and phone # on the memo line of your check, in case we need to contact you.
- Make sure the hand-written amount line is correct and matches the numeric amount.
- Don’t forget to sign your check!
** The Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office is partnered with Envision Payment Solutions for the recovery of returned checks. Returned checks may be electronically represented to your account along with a returned check fee. Envision can be contacted at 1-877-290-5460.
- Drop Box
- Drop your payment securely in one of our drop boxes located outside select tax collector offices
- Wire Transfer
- Please follow these instructions if you wish to make a payment by wire transfer.
- Tax Collector Office
- Property tax payments do not require an appointment
- You may pay your taxes at any of our offices
- Annual property tax notices are mailed by November 1st each year.
- Florida law allows certain discounts for early payment.
- The discount period runs from November through February:
- Deadline to pay before becoming delinquent is March 31st of the following year.
- The March amount reflects no discount.
- Taxes become delinquent on April 1st – interest and penalties are added to the March amount.
- What happens if the discount period ends on a weekend or legal holiday?
- The discount period is extended to the next business day IF payment is made online or in person on the next business day.
- Payments sent via mail must have discount month postmark.
2023 Discount Deadlines by Payment Type
Month
Internet
Counter or Drop Box
Mail
November Amount
Until 11:55 pm E.S.T. November 30th
Until close of business November 30th
Must have November Postmark
December Amount
Until 11:55 pm E.S.T. January 3rd
Until close of business December 29th
Must have December Postmark
January Amount
Until 11:55 pm E.S.T. January 31st
Until close of business January 31st
Must have January Postmark
February Amount
Until 11:55 pm E.S.T. February 29th
Until close of business February 29th
Must have February Postmark
March Amount
Until 11:55 pm E.S.T. March 31st
Until close of business March 29th
Must have March Postmark
Cut-off Dates for 2023 Real Estate Taxes:
Internet payments will be accepted for 2023 Real Estate taxes until 4:00 pm E.S.T. on May 31st, 2024
2024 Tax Certificate Sale: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Alternative Payment Options
Installment Payment Plan
- This allows taxpayers to pay their real estate and tangible property taxes in four installments throughout the year.
- Participants in this plan receive a discount of approximately 3.5% of their total tax bill.
- Property owners with an estimated bill of over $100 are eligible.
- The installment payment plan application period for 2024 property taxes is closed. The installment payment plan application for 2025 property taxes will open on November 1, 2024.
- The application is electronic - you will need to look up your account first, then click the "Apply for the 2024 installment payment plan" link.
- Once you are enrolled and the first installment payment is made, you do not have to reapply every year – as long as the first installment payment is paid each year.
- Payment Plan Schedule:
- 1st Payment – June 30th
- one-quarter of the total estimated taxes and assessments based on the previous year, discounted at 6%
- 2nd Payment – September 30th
- one-quarter of the total estimated taxes and assessments based on the previous year, discounted at 4.5%
- 3rd Payment – December 31st
- one-quarter of the total estimated taxes and assessments plus one-half of any adjusted tax amount, discounted at 3%
- 4th Payment – March 31st
- one-quarter of the total estimated taxes and assessments plus one-half of the adjusted tax amount, no discount
- 1st Payment – June 30th
- Payment Plan Schedule:
- Payment Plan Tips:
- If you miss your June payment, you can pay the first payment by July 31st, but you will lose your discount.
- If you do not make your first payment by July 31st, you will be taken off the payment plan. If you wish to participate in the payment plan in the future, you will have to reapply.
- If your second or third payment is not made on time, the overdue amount will be added to the next payment, and you will lose your discount.
- Taxes become delinquent on April 1st, at which time interest and other applicable costs will be added to the gross amount.
- Once you make your first payment, you will receive quarterly tax notices, which are due upon receipt.
- If you miss your June payment, you can pay the first payment by July 31st, but you will lose your discount.
- Payment Plan Tips:
Partial Payments
- Florida law allows taxpayers to make partial payments on real estate and tangible property taxes for the current year only.
- Partial payments cannot be made for delinquent taxes.
- No partial payments can be made after March 31st.
- Taxes become delinquent on April 1st, at which time interest and other applicable costs are added to the gross tax amount.
- Taxpayers who make partial payments will forfeit all discounts applied to early payments.
- The minimum amount accepted for each partial payment is $100.
- All taxes must be paid by March 31st to avoid delinquency, at which point interest and additional fees will be added to the remaining balance.
- If the balance is not paid by May 31st, a tax certificate will be sold.
- The partial payment plan application period for 2023 is closed.
- Applications for 2024 will open November 1st, 2024.
Deferrals
- Under Florida law, anyone entitled to claim a homestead exemption may be eligible to defer payments of property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments based on household income of the previous year.
- Keep in mind, homestead exemptions are granted by the property appraiser’s office, not the tax collector’s office.
- Deferring payment of your taxes will add a lien to your property.
- Deferred taxes accrue interest each month until the taxes are paid.
The deadline for filing an application for the 2023 tax year is March 31, 2024.
- Please contact our office at 727-464-3409 for more details.
- Under Florida law, anyone entitled to claim a homestead exemption may be eligible to defer payments of property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments based on household income of the previous year.