Kane County offers options for paying, redeeming late taxes
Although the second installment of property tax payments (2016 taxes/payable 2017) were due to the Kane County Treasurer's Office on Sept. 1, Kane County property owners who did not make payments on time still have an opportunity to pay late taxes.
"In these difficult economic times, I know that some residents are experiencing challenges that they would not ordinarily face," said Kane County Clerk John A. Cunningham said. "My office will continue to provide information to residents so that they are aware of options to help them through these challenges."
The Treasurer's Office will mail a "Notice before Tax Sale" in early October as a reminder to property owners with overdue taxes.
However, a failure to receive a tax bill will not negate a taxpayer's liability to pay any balance due.
Payments can be made at the Treasurer's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building A, Geneva, IL 60134, prior to Friday, Oct. 27.
A 1.5 percent per month penalty for the June and/or September payments, will be assessed to the balance. After Oct. 1, an additional $10 fee is added to the balance.
The Treasurer's Office will accept only cash, cashier's check, money order, or certified check as payment for delinquent taxes after Oct. 20.
If 2016/payable 2017 property taxes are not paid by Friday, Oct. 27, the taxes will be sold at the county's tax sale Monday, Oct. 30.
The tax sale is a reverse auction at which the tax buyers bid on purchasing delinquent taxes. The bid is a percentage of the taxes, which will be added to the amount already owed, and the bidding begins at 18 percent and can go as low as zero percent.
The percentage bid at the tax sale is added on to the balance due every six months until the taxes are redeemed.
Beginning two weeks after the tax sale, taxpayers whose taxes were sold at the tax sale will have the opportunity to "redeem" their sold taxes by paying the balance due, including all fees, penalties, and interest based on the rate at the tax sale.
Redemption of taxes occurs at the Kane County Clerk's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building B, Geneva, IL 60134.
Payments for tax redemption must be made by cash, money order, or other certified funds.
For an estimate of the cost of redemption, taxpayers can call the Clerk's Office at (630) 232-5964.
Additional information about tax redemption can be found at www.kanecountyclerk.org/Tax/TaxRedemption.aspx.
The Kane County Clerk's Office handles several different aspects regarding property taxes, including property tax extension for local governments; past tax searches; delinquent tax redemption; and annexations, disconnections, dissolutions and organization of taxing districts.
The system implemented by the Clerk's Office to calculate tax extensions has saved taxpayer dollars by reducing the time to process these functions and increase efficiency.
The Clerk's Office provides information and resources directly to residents through the clerk's website at www.kanecountyclerk.org, Twitter @KaneCoILClerk, or www.facebook.com/kanecountyclerk.