You remembered to pay your Whatcom property taxes, right?
Whatcom County property taxes are due April 30, but the Whatcom County Treasurer’s office says because April 30 falls on a weekend this year, property tax payment will be accepted as timely if it has a postmark of no later than May 1, 2017.
The website continues: “Any postmark after this date will be considered as late, and the payment must include the correct interest and penalty, otherwise it will be returned to you.”
Here are five things to know about property taxes in Whatcom County:
1. Washington uses a budget-based system to collect property taxes. Districts set a budget for the amount of money they need to collect. Your share of the overall tax money collected is based on your property’s value.
2. Each property in Whatcom County is revalued every year. Property is appraised several ways, including sales of similar properties, structure replacement costs and income of business properties. An increase in value does not mean that next year’s property taxes will increase at a proportionate rate.
3. Whatcom County properties are in an average of nine to 11 taxing districts. Tax bills list each district you pay. The assessor’s website lists what each collects.
4. Regular districts, including the county, cities, port and fire district, can increase the property tax budget 1 percent each year. The amount can also increase to include the value of new property. If a taxing district does not increase taxes by 1 percent in a year, it can “bank” that increase and take it later. If a district had not increased taxes for five years, “banking” them, it could then increase taxes by 5 percent in one year. Voters may also approve an increase beyond the 1 percent for an established district, such as Greenways, or create a new district, such as EMS, that will require taxes. Special districts, such as schools, and special purpose bonds must ask voters to approve the total amount to collect for a period of time.
5. The county treasurer mails property tax bills in February for payments due April 30 and Oct. 31.
This story was originally published April 17, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "You remembered to pay your Whatcom property taxes, right?."