While Khani & Auerbach practices real estate law beyond the tri-county area, we thought it might be beneficial for us to share this very useful information we received from the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office for our Broward County clients.  We hope you find the information beneficial.

Broward County Mails the 2018 Property Tax Bills

The Broward County Tax Collector’s Office recently mailed the 2018 tax bills to all property owners. While the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office does not set or collect these taxes, they wanted to share important information about the payment options available to property owners. If you have any questions about your tax bill or payment, please contact the Tax Collector’s office directly at (954)831-4000. Tax bills are also available to view, print, and pay online at https://broward.county-taxes.com starting November 1. For taxpayers whose bills are paid by escrow arrangement, the bill is sent directly to the mortgage company and you are sent a courtesy copy in mid-November.  At Khani & Auerbach, we recommend that you follow-up with your lender to ensure receipt, and ultimately the payment, of the tax bill.

Property taxes must be paid no later than March 31, 2019 to avoid delinquency interest, fees, and penalties, but to enjoy the greatest benefit of the early-payment discounts, the taxes may be paid as early as November 1, 2018. Khani & Auerbach ALWAYS recommends you take advantage of the early-payment discounts.  The discounts for payments made in full are as follows: a 4-percent discount if paid in November; a 3-percent discount applies in December; a 2-percent discount in January; and a 1-percent discount in February. The discounted amounts that apply to each month between November and February are already reflected on property tax bill coupons. These discounts apply only to full tax payments. Making a partial payment of property taxes forfeits any applicable discount otherwise available for full tax payments.

2018 tax payments can be made by the following methods:

Credit/Debit Card, or eCheck Online Payments: at https://broward.county-taxes.com – use the search function to locate the correct tax account then follow instructions for payment by credit/debit card or eCheck. There is a non-refundable 2.55% convenience fee for credit/debit card payments. eCheck payments have no additional fee.

By Mailing a Check: use the green return-envelope enclosed with the tax bill or mail payment to Broward County Tax Collector, Processing Center, P.O. Box 849375, Hollywood, FL 33084-9375. Always include the tax coupon with the check and write the tax account on the check to prevent processing delays. All check payments must be in US funds issued from a US bank account. The payment envelope’s postmark date is used to determine the applicable early-payment discount. If check payments are rejected or returned by your bank, the payment will be canceled, a return check fee will be charged, and discount deadlines will not be extended for substitute payments.

At any Wells Fargo Bank Branch located in Broward County: all 2018 tax bills (no delinquent tax payments) may be paid at any Wells Fargo Bank Branch in Broward County until March 31, 2019. Tax payments made at Wells Fargo must be paid in full only (no partial payments). Taxpayers must have their original 2018 tax bill to present to the bank at time of the payment. No credit, debit, or cash payments can be accepted by the banks for tax payment.

Partial Payments: 2018 taxes may be paid in up to five partial payments. Partial payments must be for a minimum of $100 and include a $10 processing fee. Partial payments forfeit all early-payment tax discounts that would otherwise apply to full payments. The final partial payment must be for the full remaining balance and paid by March 31, 2019 to avoid delinquency interest and fees on any remaining balance as of April 1, 2019. Partial payments cannot be made online or at Wells Fargo banks.

For additional information, please contact the Broward County Tax Collector’s Office at (954)831-4000 or visit www.broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury/

At Khani & Auerbach, we are dedicated to providing as much information to assist you with your real estate needs. Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google+ for additional useful information.