By News-Register staff

Assessor asks for no-contact payment of property taxes

Yamhill County Assessor photo
Yamhill County Assessor photo

“Contactless payments and inquiries help our office be efficient and adhere to social distancing guidelines,” according to an office statement.

Bills paid in full by Nov. 16 qualify for a 3% discount. They also can be paid in three equal installments due in November, February and May.

“By mailing your payment, you allow our staff members to be more efficient in answering questions,” a representative said. “You also help reduce the line and waiting times for citizens that must come to the office.”

The Assessor’s Office, on the ground floor of the Yamhill County Courthouse, is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is set up for social distancing, with hand sanitizer, lines on the floor and Plexiglas barriers in place.

Only two customers may enter the service area at any one time. Taxpayers should expect longer than usual wait times, staff said.

Payments using the envelope included with the bill can be mailed, dropped off in Yamhill County election drop boxes until Nov. 17, or put into the Assessor’s Office drop box near the Fifth Street entrance to the courthouse.

Property owners can pay with a credit or debit card by calling 877-273-4878, or by going online. A link can be found on the Assessor’s website.

There is a fee for both phone and online payments. According to the Assessor’s website, the fee is $3.95 when using a Visa debit card, $1.50 for an e-check and 2.5% of the total charge for a credit card.

The credit card fee for a $2,000 property tax bill, for example, would cost $50.

Assessor Derrick Wharff said online and phone payments are offered through an independent vendor as a convenience for citizens. The county cannot waive the fee because the payment goes to the vendor, Wharff said.

For more information, or to ask about making an appointment to pay in person, send an email to assessor@co.yamhill.or.us or call 503-434-7521.

Comments

PAO

And yet the assessor is still posting notices to enter private homes to assess them "amid the coronavirus pandemic"...

bonnybedlam

Those fees are ridiculous! I get that it's the vendor's fault, but I hope the county seriously considers changing vendors if they're going to scalp us this hard during a pandemic.

CubFan

Perhaps the Assessor's office could waive the fees this year? Mac Water & Light waived credit card fees during COVID. It's been very convenient to pay my utility bills via credit card.

Hibb

This has the makings of "taxation without representation" in an extreme sort of way. Time to get the tea out of the cupboard...

tagup

I don’t get these comments....the county is passing along a fee for credit transactions....lots of businesses do the same for credit card purchases. Some credit card companies charge more than 2.5% Why should the county waive the cost?
Obviously, the simple answer is send them a check....But I suppose the postage cost is a sore spot as well....

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