TAMPA, FL – (November 4, 2014) – Doug Belden, Tax Collector notifies  Hillsborough County property owners that the 2014 Property tax notices were mailed out this weekend and available for payment with a 4% discount as of November 1st.  “We encourage property owners to take advantage of early payment discounts.”  Doug Belden states.

The deadline to receive a 4% discount is Sunday, November 30, 2014. Customers can skip a trip and pay online by credit card or E-check – a free electronic payment from your checking account.  Customers, who choose to pay by mail, must make sure the envelope is postmarked by November 30th, to secure the discount. Checks should be made payable to Doug Belden, Tax Collector and sent to P.O. Box 30012 Tampa, FL 33630-3012.  Walk-in customers are eligible to receive the 4% discount on December 1st since the deadline is on a weekend.

Hillsborough County property owners can make partial payments towards their 2014 property taxes beginning in November, but certain restrictions apply. Taxpayers can also plan ahead and enroll in the installment plan for 2015. Enrollment for the 2015 Installment plan starts on November 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015.

Services provided by the Tax Collector’s office which include fees and commissions collected on behalf of each taxing authority and other agencies are used to fund the operating budget approved by the Florida Department of Revenue. The work volume, combined with cost-effective operations, results in fee revenues well in excess of the budget. The “unused fees” are returned to the local government agencies in proportion to the amount they pay. This year’s surplus funds enabled the tax collector’s office to distribute unused fees totaling $9 million to the BOCC and other agencies.   Belden says, “The surplus of funds are attributed to efficiencies and cost saving processes established throughout the Tax Collector’s office.”

For more details regarding the collection of property taxes, discounts, partial payments or the installment plan, contact the Tax Collector’s office at 813.635.5200 or visit their website at hillstax.org.