GENERAL TAXPAYER INFORMATION
Things
you will find helpful when paying your taxes:
Property
taxes are due when billed (mid-February), however there are two final
dates by which tax payments must be received - April 30 for first
half payments, October 31 for second half. If tax is less than $50.00,
the full year must be paid by April 30. For Personal Property, except
mobile homes, if first half taxes are not paid by April 30, the full
year's tax become delinquent and must be paid in full along with interest
on the full amount. (RCW 84.56.020)
Modes
of Payment:
*If
paying by mail, the envelope in which the payment is mailed must bear
a postmark of the US postal service by the due date (RCW 1.12.060).
Delinquent
Taxes (Interest and Penalties):
Payments
postmarked after April 30 or October 31 will be considered delinquent
and will be returned for payment of interest. Taxes will not be processed
without interest.
Interest
and penalties are set in law in RCW 84.56.020. Interest is assessed
at 1% per month (or12% per annum) on the full year's taxes, beginning
May 1. If still unpaid on June 1, an additional 3% penalty is assessed.
A second penalty of 8% is assessed on December 1 if taxes remain unpaid.
Please call the Treasurer's office for the correct amount due if you
are mailing after the due date. (360) 416-1750
Requesting
Tax Refunds:
Taxpayers
who have paid in error, or overpaid their taxes due to a tax adjustment,
must make a written request for a refund. Interest on refunds accrues
from the date taxes were overpaid and is included in the amount to
be refunded, unless refund is made within 60 days of payment.
Senior Citizen
Exemption & Deferral Programs:
If
you are over 61 years of age and/or disabled, you may be eligible
for a senior citizen exemption. There are A, B and C exemptions depending
on level of income. If your combined family income is less than $40,000
you may apply for an exemption through the Skagit County Assessor's
office at (360) 416-1780. Exemption applies to the primary residence
and land on which it sits, up to one acre.
If
you do qualify for an exemption and are still having difficulty paying
your taxes, you may qualify for a Deferral Program through the State
Department of Revenue. Please feel free to contact our office for
more information at (360) 416-1750. If approved, your taxes are paid
by the Department of Revenue, a lien is placed on the property and
the taxes must be paid either when the property is sold, or at the
time of death of the property owner.
How we can be
reached:
- Telephone:
(360) 416-1750
- Personal Property
(360) 416-1750
- Water Quality
Loans (360) 416-1757
- Mobile Home
Moving Permits (360) 416-1750
- Excise, Bankruptcy
(360)-416-1750
- Investments
(360) 416-1752
- E-mail: treasurer@co.skagit.wa.us
- Web Site: www.skagitcounty.net/treasurer
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