Most DuPage property owners paying taxes on time

Despite the downturn in the economy, DuPage County Treasurer Gwen Henry is reporting fewer property owners are late with tax payments this year.

Henry reported 8,000 delinquent notices were dispatched last week, compared to about 8,300 last year. She said last year was the county's highest level of property tax tardiness.

However, about 1,500 of the late payers already have paid up, Henry said.

"I was surprised we went down a little bit, but hopefully people are saving ahead for their taxes and there are many who have their taxes in escrow, so that helps, too," she said.

Henry's office collects roughly $2.3 billion in property taxes for more than 390 taxing bodies in the county. About 72 percent of those taxes go to fund education. The late property taxes represent $38.6 million in tardy revenue. The due date was Sept. 2.

Taxpayers who are behind in paying their taxes have until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, to pay the tax bill plus penalties to avoid having their tax debt sold at a special auction, Henry said. Tax buyers bid on the various unpaid tax bills and place a lien on the property. The winner is chosen by the lowest interest rate offered. If the property owner doesn't pay off the new tax bill with accrued interest in two and a half years, the tax buyer can petition to take over the property.

Henry expects about 3,600 tax bills to be sold during the auction that could take up to two days starting Nov. 24. The vast majority will pay off the debt. Only one property was taken over by a tax buyer last year, Henry said.

"People know about the tax debt because they haven't paid their property taxes and if they try to sell their home they'll see that a lien has been placed against it," she said. "Believe me, they know."

County board member Jeff Redick said it was good news that more people were able to pay on time than in previous years, but it didn't mean property owners weren't burdened by high taxes.

"This shouldn't be confused with anyone's belief that anyone can afford these property taxes," Redick said. "We still need to fight to maintain low property taxes, so we can give a little bit of relief to homeowners."

For more information about delinquent property taxes or resources to help ease property taxes in the future visit dupageco.org/treasurer.