Treasurer Francis King mailed a notice with tax bills two weeks ago to tell people about the new initiative, one of the first e-government services offered by the county. After going to the county's Web site, co.washington.pa.us, taxpayers should click on "row offices," then "treasurer," then "tax payment inquiry" and follow the instructions.
Users will be charged $2 in addition to their taxes. There still are two other ways to pay county taxes -- mailing the payments or delivering them to King's office in Courthouse Square.
King said the system, which cost about $11,500, allows residents and businesses to pay by "electronic check."
Users must fill out a look-alike check on the screen, providing their names, addresses, bank account numbers and bank routing codes. After completing the transaction, users get confirmation by e-mail.
The system doesn't accept credit cards. King said the user fees were higher than he was willing to pass on to the public.
King, whose office mailed 100,000 tax bills Jan. 4, said he hoped as many as 500 taxpayers would use the system this year. Eventually, he said, he hopes 25 percent use the service each year.
People also may use the system, for free, to check their property assessments and payment histories. They may use the system to check others' assessments and payments, too.
Information about payments of delinquent taxes is not available through the service. Also, taxpayers can't use the Web site to pay municipal or school district property taxes.
King promised during his 2003 campaign to implement the service, which he said was offered by only a couple of other counties statewide. The system was designed by the county's information-technology department and RBA Professional Data Systems Inc. of State College.
Autor: Joe Smydo
Quelle: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 16.01.2005
