pay your property taxes online? (car registration, credit card, property tax)

[XcapefromNJ]

I just renewed my car registration online. I was going to mail it in, but I saw on the envelope they wanted a $1 processing fee for mailing in your check! That was a new one for me, so I went online and paid $28 by credit card.

So.... I look at my property tax bill and figure I will pay that online also. The bill gives the website and states "OPC charges a nominal fee for credit/debit card internet and phone transactions."

nominal... yes it says, NOMINAL... ok, so I enter the number to pull up my record and it brings up my address and the tax bill matches the paper bill I have in front of me, which is for around $4000, and the "convenience fee" is going to be..... $109... what? That's not NOMINAL!! Canceled transaction, and I will mail a check, and they will not cash it for a month.

[eman1200]

that sux.

[lumbollo]

The fees come from the fact that Mastercard, Visa, Amex and the others charge a percentage fee for every transaction they handle. Unlike a retailer, the tax office is not allowed to absorb these costs or pass them on to others though a higher price.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by XcapefromNJ

I just renewed my car registration online. I was going to mail it in, but I saw on the envelope they wanted a $1 processing fee for mailing in your check! That was a new one for me, so I went online and paid $28 by credit card.

So.... I look at my property tax bill and figure I will pay that online also. The bill gives the website and states "OPC charges a nominal fee for credit/debit card internet and phone transactions."

nominal... yes it says, NOMINAL... ok, so I enter the number to pull up my record and it brings up my address and the tax bill matches the paper bill I have in front of me, which is for around $4000, and the "convenience fee" is going to be..... $109... what? That's not NOMINAL!! Canceled transaction, and I will mail a check, and they will not cash it for a month.

Yep, the way to avoid that is if you do online banking. Just program your bank to pay the county (remember to complete all the information exactly when you create the payee) on the 15th of Dec and the money will be deducted from your account AND it will be paid for free.