This is truly a taxing time of year

Tax statements have been mailed, payments are coming in and so are the questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked.

>> Q: Do I have to pay my taxes all at once?

>> A: If you are receiving the over 65 or disability exemption you can pay your taxes in four installments over the next 10 months without being subject to penalty and interest fees. The first installment is due by Jan. 31, 2009, the second due March 31, 2009, the third due May 31, 2009, and the final payment due July 31, 2009. Contact our office to initiate the installment process.

For all other taxpayers, we will accept payments in any amount. If you want to, feel free to spread out the total amount by paying one fourth in each of the months of October, November, December and January.

Unless you qualify for the over 65 or disability exemption installment option, unpaid taxes on Feb. 1, 2010 will accrue a 6 percent penalty plus a 1 percent interest fee.

>> Q: I have several properties; can I write one check to pay all the taxes?

>> A: Yes. We can process your payment just about any way you want us to.

>> Q: If I pay early do I get a discount?

>> A: No. There are not early payment options available for entities in Ector County.

>> Q: Can I pay with a credit card?

>> A: Yes. You can call 1-800-272-9829 or go online to www.officialpayments .com. Be sure to use jurisdiction code 6137.

>> Q: What happened to my exemptions?

>> A: If your statement does not reflect a homestead, over 65, or disability exemption that you have applied for there are a couple of possible reasons.

The law changed last year regarding the qualifications for homestead exemptions on mobile homes. To comply with the new requirements many mobile home owners needed to provide additional information. We sent audit letters requesting information from those owners and did not hear back from everyone, so you may need to contact us to see what is necessary to reinstate the exemption.

The other reason that your exemption may have been dropped is that we recently upgraded our software and in the process had to convert our data to comply with the upgraded system. However, some of the data did not want to comply. So if your taxes don’t reflect the exemptions that you previously qualified for, please contact our office.

>> Q: I’ve been paying into an escrow account with my mortgage company; why was my tax statement mailed to me? Or, I paid off my mortgage, why didn’t I get my tax statement?

>> A: The answer to both questions is the same. We mail statements to mortgage companies based on the mortgage company’s request for statements. That process usually occurs in June. The first run of statements, which is mailed in October, does not reflect the new or paid-off mortgage company accounts that transpired after June. Statements for new mortgages and paid-off mortgages will be sent to the appropriate owner in a supplemental process which is usually in December. So what should you do? If you got the statement but should not have, go ahead and forward it to your mortgage company. If you did not get your statement, please call our office and we will be happy to send a copy immediately.