Manatee County 2013 Property Tax Payment Deadline is March 31

"The quickest, two easiest ways to pay taxes are online at taxcollector.com using a credit card or e-check or to mail in the payment,” said Tax Collector Ken Burton, Jr.  “There also are two things taxpayers should not do; first, do not wait until the end of March to pay taxes in person. When we have heavy customer traffic, we sometimes must limit the number of payments a customer may make at one time.  Second, do not write a bad check.  Returned check penalties are hefty and the taxes will still be unpaid.”

Thousands of taxpayers have chosen to pay their taxes using the Tax Collector’s website taxcollector.com.  Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) are provided for guidance.  There is no fee for online e-check payments (electronic debit to a checking account).  Credit cards may be used only for online payments, with a convenience fee charged by a secure 3rd party payment processor.  Credit cards are not accepted when paying in person or by mail. Taxcollector.com is updated daily so taxpayers can verify that their payment has been received; however, it may take up to three business days for payment information to be reflected on the website.  Receipts dating back to 1998, may be printed online.

On April 17, an estimated 10,000 Delinquent Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Notices will be mailed to all property owners with unpaid 2013 property taxes {Section 197.343, Florida Statutes}. Property owners who pay their taxes after 5 p.m. on April 4 will still receive a delinquent notice due to the time required for mail preparation.  Delinquent taxes must be paid by 5 p.m. on May 29 in person or online at taxcollector.com to qualify for the May amount due and to avoid the sale of a real estate tax certificate.  Payments may be dropped off at any of the four Tax Collector locations until 5 p.m. on May 28; but customers can still pay online or in person and wait for an associate to post their payment through 5 p.m. May 29.  Online payments of 2013 real estate taxes will not be available from 5 p.m. May 29 through early June, to allow for the sale and balancing of tax certificates.

Florida law requires Delinquent Personal Property Taxes to be advertised once and Real Estate Taxes to be advertised three times.  If real estate taxes remain unpaid, tax certificates will be sold on May 30 at the annual Tax Certificate Sale conducted online at manateefl.realtaxlien.com/.  Bidders have the opportunity to pay the taxes at an interest rate determined by the auction and then issued a certificate. If the taxes remain delinquent after two years, those holding a two-year-old certificate can apply for a tax deed.  If a tax deed is applied for by the certificate holder, and not redeemed by the date of tax deed sale, the property could be sold by the Clerk of Court’s Office to the highest bidder on their website: manatee.realforeclose.com. 

Manatee County Tax Collector locations are DeSoto - 819 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton, adjacent to the DeSoto Mall; Palma Sola - 7411 Manatee Ave. W., Suite 200, Bradenton; Lakewood Ranch - 6007 111^th St. E. (off SR 70); and North River – 4333 US 301 N., Ellenton.  

For more information, visit taxcollector.com or phone 941.741.4800.