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Treasurer's
Office: Island County, Washington
Contact
Us
Scheduled
Holiday Closures
Frequently
Asked Questions
Tax
Statement Information
Request
for Address Change
Paying
Your Taxes
Personal
Property Taxes
Mobile
Home Movement
Tax
Foreclosure Sales
Real
Property Foreclosure Parcels
Local
Improvement Districts
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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
What are
the Treasurer's Office Hours?
We are open Monday
- Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. including the lunch hour.
For Holiday Closures, see schedule. Scheduled
Holiday Closures
First half taxes
are due April 30. Second half taxes are due October
31. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
holiday, the payment shall be considered timely if postmarked
on the next business day (RCW 1.12.070).
Is a postmark acceptable
or do I have to pay in person?
You may mail your
payment, make your payment in person, or pay your taxes on
line (see paying your taxes) Paying
Your Taxes An official US Post Office postmark/cancellation
determines the payment date. If you mail your payment
on the due date, you run the risk of not receiving that day's
postmark.
Can I pay my taxes with
a credit card?
Yes. You may
pay your property taxes online with a VISA, MasterCard, or
Discover. A convenience fee will be charged by the bank.
See Paying Your Taxes
Can anyone
see my tax account records?
Yes. All real
property taxes are public records and are available for inquiries.
If my taxes are delinquent,
can I pay the delinquent taxes and not pay the current
year?
On real property, you may pay any
delinquent year in full including interest and penalty without
paying the current year. You should note, however,
that the property is subject to foreclosure when the taxes
become three years delinquent (RCW 84.56.060).
When personal property has been
delinquent for 30 days, it becomes subject to distraint and
sale (foreclosure).
Do delinquent taxes
affect my credit?
The
Treasurer's Office does not provide information directly to
credit reporting agencies. However, credit reporting
agencies may contact other companies with whom you have a financial
relationship (e.g. banks, mortgage company, etc.) to acquire
information.
May I make a partial
tax payment if I don't have enough to pay half my taxes?
Washington State
law does not allow the Treasurer to accept partial payments. (RCW
84.56.020)
If my taxes are delinquent,
how long before the County will foreclose on my property?
Foreclosure on real property occurs
when the taxes are three years delinquent. Foreclosure
proceedings begin the year following the third year.
Personal property becomes subject
to distraint and sale any time after 30 days of delinquency.
What is personal property and what form do I need
to file properly?
Personal property is typically "mobile" and
includes, but is not limited to, machinery, furniture, fixtures,
and equipment.
Every business must complete a
personal property affidavit by April 30 each year and file
it with the Island County Assessor's office for taxes due
the following year. Personal property rates are the
same as for real property.
How can I get my interest
and/or penalty waived?
Washington statutes
strictly regulate the reasons the Treasurer can waive interest
and penalties. These are: death of a spouse or
guardian or an error made by the County.
I want
to protest my taxes. Who do I contact?
The Department of
Revenue sets the guidelines under
WAC 458-18-215. For
more information, contact the Property Tax Division at 360-570-5900
or you may view the document at online at http://dor.wa.gov
How can I find out if
I am eligible for the senior citizen or disabled person
exemption?
Please refer to the back of your tax
statement for general eligibility requirements and contact
the Assessor's Office at 360-679-7304 for more detailed information.
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