The www.iowatreasurers.org Web site was recognized as one of the top 20 e-government initiatives of the year as recipient of the Pioneer Award from E-Gov.com. The Iowa Treasurers were among a world-class list of recipients that included organizations like United Kingdom, NASA, EPA and the Social Security Administration and Ontario, Canada -- to name only a few. The fifth annual E-Gov Awards, sponsored by Accenture, recognized solutions for improving electronic government delivery and exemplary achievements in E-Government and higher education service delivery, not just in the United States but throughout the world.
The Web site also received a 2003 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) showing how counties can work together to enhance customer service for citizens.
"Iowa is the only state where all counties have joined together to offer a statewide, online property tax service," said Woodbury County Treasurer Bob Knowler. "No matter where in Iowa you own property, and no matter where you are in the world, you can pay your property taxes through www.iowatreasurers.org at any hour of any day, right up to midnight of the last day taxes are due" said Knowler. "And starting in October, you can even pay past-due taxes online."
Since its launch one year ago, more than 500,000 people have visited the Web site. "You can visit the Woodbury county virtual office at www.iowatreasurers.org, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Knowler. "Citizens can pay property taxes, download forms and find other helpful information about motor vehicle renewals, driver's license renewals and property tax payments, as well as communicate directly with the treasurer's office by e-mail."
Online tax payment processing takes about five minutes and the service is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week during the semi-annual Iowa property tax collection period which ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 31 and Sept. 30 each year.
The online tax service provides the only way for citizens to pay property taxes with either a major credit card or electronic check which allows taxpayers to use regular checking accounts by entering information from paper checks into a Web site.
E-Gov is an organization of marketing and education professionals who have worked with technology leaders from government and industry for more than 20 years. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a full-service organization that provides legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance to county governments.
Quelle: Sioux City Journal
