December taxes surpass $1 million

At Monday’s county commissioner workshop, Chris Nelson, county treasurer updated the commissioners on this past tax season.

“I am happy to say as of Dec. 31 we, for the first time that I’ve seen in our records, we collected over 98 percent of taxes,” Nelson said. “This is a record.”

At the beginning of December Nelson noted that the treasurer’s office sent out approximately 1,500 postcards whose accounts show as delinquent.

“I had sent out some postcards at the beginning of December and we collected over $1 million just last month,” Nelson said.

Nelson mentioned that along with taxes due this most recent season, people have also been coming in and paying their back taxes.

Through the Whitman County website, county residents can look up their taxes and also pay their taxes online. This feature can be found through the “treasurer” tab on the website.

Taxpayers are advised to have the owner code and parcel number on hand before paying taxes online. The code and numbers are on the tax statement along with the amount due.

A convenience fee based on the amount of the transaction will be added for online tax payments. A credit card percentage fee of 2.5 percent of the amount charged will be added.

Paying with a debit card or E-Check is just a flat rate. Debit cards have a $3.95 flat fee and E-Checks have a $2 flat fee.

Nelson said that with all they have collected this past month it was as if it was another tax season for those in the treasurer office.