[Archived] First Half of Alexandria’s 2005 Real Estate Tax Due June 15

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	May 12, 2005 PIO#	Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information, Contact:
May 12, 2005 Barbara J. Gordon, Public Information Officer, or
PIO 151-05/bg Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

First Half of Alexandria’s 2005 Real Estate Tax Due June 15

Alexandria property owners, who do not pay their real estate taxes through a mortgage escrow account, should receive the first half 2005 real estate tax bill in the mail this week. The bills will reflect the real estate tax rate of $0.915 approved by City Council last week. To avoid late payment penalty and interest, propoerty owners should pay the total amount shown on the tax bill by June 15, 2005. Owners who do not receive theirtax bill in the mail should call the Treasury Division at 703.838.4777 before June 15 to receive a duplicate bill. Failure to receive a tax bill in the mail is not grounds for waiving penalty and interest or extending the due date.

The City offers the following convenient methods for paying real estate taxes:

• Pay by mail using the enclosed return envelope or mail payment to Treasurer’s Office, Department of Finance, Department 750, Alexandria, VA 22334-0750.
• Pay by eCheck online at alexandriava.gov to have the payment immediately deducted from the specified checking or savings account. There is no additional fee for using this service.
• Pay by Automatic Bank Debit to have the payment automatically deducted from the specified checking or savings account in monthly installments or in one lump-sum payment on each of the tax due dates. There is no fee for using this service. However, registration is required at least 21 days before the initial debit date. Information is available online at alexandriava.gov/finance/auto_bank_debit.
• Pay at any SunTrust Bank branch located in the City of Alexandria. SunTrust Bank will only accept payment of the total amount printed on the real estate tax bill until 2 pm on June 15, 2005.
• Pay in person at the Treasury Division, City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 1510. Office hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday and 9 am until noon on Saturday, except holiday weekends. A drop box located on the Royal Street side of City Hall is also available 24 hours a day.
• Pay with a Discover card in person at the Treasury Division or by calling 703.838.4777 between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Depending on the amount of the credit card transaction, Discover will assess a service fee between $5 and $48 for using this service.
• Pay with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 1.800.272.9829 or online at alexandriava.gov. Depending on the amount of the credit card transaction, Official Payments Corporation, the credit card processor, will assess a convenience fee for using this service. The City’s jurisdiction code is 1007.

Please make checks payable to the City of Alexandria.

For information on real estate assessments or the assessment appeals process, please call Real Estate Assessments at 703.838.4646. For information on real estate tax and refuse fee payments, late payment penalty and interest or to request a tax bill, please call the Treasury Division at 703.838.4777.

Affordable Homeownership Preservation Grant Program

Residents of the City of Alexandria, who meet the following qualifications for the Affordable Homeownership Preservation (AHOP) Grant Program, may be eligible for a grant towards their second half 2005 real estate taxes. The maximum grant has been substantially increased for 2005. The application deadline for the 2005 AHOP Program is Sept. 1. For more information, contact the City’s Tax Services Branch, City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 1700, Alexandria, VA 22314, by telephone at 703.838.4570, or by email: ahop@alexandriava.gov.

	Income/Value Ceilings	Grant Amount

2004 Household Income	$0 - $40,000	$675
	$40,001 - $50,000	$475
	$50,001 - $62,000	$275

2005 Property Assessment	$442,000 (maximum eligibility level)

2004 Household Assets	$50,000 (maximum eligibility level)

Real Estate Tax Relief Program for Elderly or Disabled Persons

City residents who are 65 years of age or older (or will become so during 2005) or permanently and totally disabled, may be eligible for the City’s Real Estate Tax Relief Program for Elderly or Disabled Persons. Applications for this program were due by April 15. However, applications will be accepted until the June 15 tax due date, provided “good cause” is shown for failure to file by April 15. For more information, contact the City's Taxpayer Services Branch, City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 1700, Alexandria, VA 22314, by telephone at 703.838.4572, or by email: taxrelief@alexandriava.gov.

	Income/Value Ceilings	Tax Relief/Deferral

2004 Household Income	$0 - $40,000	100%
	$40,001 - $50,000	50%
	$50,001 - $62,000	25%
	$0 - $62,000	Deferral

2005 Household Assets (excluding house and two acres)	$240,000 (maximum eligibility level)