[Archived] Alexandria Unveils Quick and Convenient Way to Pay Taxes; State Activate " No Care Tax Hotline"


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Thursday, July 23, 1998
Contact:	Tom Brannan, Assistant City Manager, (703) 838-4300 (O)

Alexandria Unveils Quick and Convenient Way to Pay Taxes; State Activate " No Care Tax Hotline"

City of Alexandria residents may now choose to pay parking tickets and real estate and personal and business property taxes in just a few minutes using any Touch-Tone telephone. This new credit card payment service is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day by calling 1-888-2PAY-TAX (1-888-272-9829).

A billing number, a daytime telephone number, a valid credit card--American Express, VISA, MasterCard or Discover--and Alexandria's jurisdiction code (1007) are all that's necessary to complete a payment transaction. The service verifies the customer's credit card and issues a verbal receipt when the call is finished, and the customer pays a service fee based on the size of the bill.

In offering this credit card tax payment service, the City joins other local Virginia governments, including Arlington County, Stafford County, the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County.

In a related matter, the Commonwealth of Virginia now offers a question-and-answer line on the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998, which phases out the car tax for certain vehicles over the next five years. Citizens may call the "No Car Tax Hotline" in Virginia by dialing 1-877-CAR-TAXI (1-877-227-8291). There is a service charge for this call.

Alexandria residents must pay the full 1998 personal property tax bill by Oct. 5, 1998. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will then reimburse taxpayers for a portion of 1998 taxes for qualifying vehicles. Qualifying vehicles include cars, motorcycles, pick-up and panel trucks (under 7,501 lbs.) owned for non-business purposes. The Commonwealth of Virginia will mail the 1998 reimbursement checks to taxpayers.