Santa Clara County is offering a new Partial Payment Program for property taxpayers, along with other new features such as email notifications and announcements related to their tax bills, according to an Oct. 5 announcement.
The county’s Department of Tax and Collections is holding two Partial Payment Program informational workshops, Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, for taxpayers to learn more about the program and other related services.
Until now, taxpayers were required to make property tax payment installments in full, and were charged a 10 percent penalty if the full installment amount wasn’t made by the payment deadline. The new program allows taxpayers to make multiple partial payments on each installment, with penalties placed on the unpaid portion only, after the payment deadline.
“The new Partial Payment Program can provide significant relief to taxpayers who need the flexibility of making multiple payments,” said Emily Harrison, County Finance Agency Director.
The County is mailing about 488,000 annual secured property tax bills during the next few days. The first payment installment is due between Nov. 1 and Dec. 11. Residents are invited to learn more about the new program and other supportive services at the Nov. 1 and Nov. 3 workshops. Topics at the workshops will include:
• Overview of the new Partial Payment Program.
• Roll out of new user-friendly tax bills this year, beginning with secured and supplemental tax bills.
• New taxpayer balance due statements to help residents track their payments.
• Email notifications: sign up to receive notifications and announcements related to tax bills. For those who opt in, they can receive notifications of their payment due date via email and then go online to make their payments in a timely manner.
• Free eCheck payment option that reduces online processing costs.
• New lower credit card payment processing fees negotiated by the county this year.
Nov. 1 at 6-7 p.m.
County Government Center, Board Chambers
70 W. Hedding St., San Jose
Parking after 5 p.m.: One-hour parking (lot at the corner of San Pedro and Hedding streets) or Employee “C” lot across from County Government Center
Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.-noon
County Government Center, Isaac Newton Senter Auditorium (INS)
70 W. Hedding St., San Jose, first floor
Daytime Parking: One-hour parking (lot at the corner of San Pedro and Hedding streets) or metered street parking
