[Archived] City Of Alexandria Reminds Property Owners Of November 15 Deadline For Payment Of Second Half Of 2006 Real Estate Tax

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	October 30, 2006 PIO# 241-06/rdo	Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA REMINDS PROPERTY OWNERS OF NOVEMBER 15
DEADLINE FOR PAYMENT OF SECOND HALF OF 2006 REAL ESTATE TAX
Convenient Payment Options Available

The City of Alexandria reminds property owners that payment of the second half of the 2006 Real Estate Tax and Refuse Fee is due Wednesday, November 15, 2006. To avoid late payment penalty and interest charges, payment must be received by the City or postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than November 15.

All real estate tax bills were mailed out by October 4, 2006. Property owners whose real estate taxes are not paid by their mortgage company and who have not received a tax bill in the mail should call the City’s Treasury Division at 703-838-4777 to request a duplicate bill. Failure to receive a tax bill in the mail is not grounds for waiving the late payment penalty and interest or extending the November 15 due date.

Tax bills can be paid 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 to noon on Saturday, November 11, which is the second Saturday of the month. Tax bills may be paid in person by cash, check, or Discover Card. A service fee between $5 and $48 will be assessed by Discover for using this service.

The Finance Department urges Alexandria property owners to avoid having to wait in line at City Hall by using one of the following convenient payment options:

� Pay by mail using the envelope enclosed with the bill or mail the payment to Treasurer's Office, PO Box 34750, Alexandria, VA 22334-0750. Checks should be made payable to “City of Alexandria.” A drop box located on the Royal Street side of City Hall is also available 24 hours a day.

� Pay by eCheck online at www.alexandriava.gov/finance to have the payment deducted from a specified checking or savings account. There is no additional fee for using this service, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

� Pay by Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 1-800-272-9829 or online at www.alexandriava.gov/finance. A convenience fee will be assessed by Official Payments Corporation for this service. You will need to reference the City’s jurisdiction code 1007. Fees range from $3 to $30 for transactions less than $1,000 and between 2.5% and 3% for transactions of $1,000 or more.

� Pay at any SunTrust Bank branch located in the City of Alexandria until 5 pm on November 15. SunTrust Bank will only accept payment of the total amount printed on the real estate tax bill. There is no fee for this service.

� Pay by automatic bank debit. Real estate tax payments can be automatically deducted from a specified checking or savings account in monthly installments, or in two equal installments on each of the semi-annual tax due dates. There is no fee for using this service. However, registration is required at least 14 days before the initial debit date. For more information, call 703-838-4777 or see www.alexandriava.gov/finance.

For information on assessments or appeals, 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, call the Treasury Division at 703-838-4777. Si usted requiere asistencia en Espanol, por favor llamar al 703-519-6506, extension 597.

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