Because the usual Sept. 30 deadline falls on a Sunday this year, the deadline has been extended to Oct. 1. Payments sent by mail must be postmarked no later than that date. Payments made after Oct. 1 will be subject to a 1.5 percent penalty.
This summer, the County’s Treasury Division issued more than 161,000 annual tax bills totaling an estimated $110 million. The bills include County property taxes, as well as fees for County sewer and water, tax ditches and street lighting, where applicable.
Additionally, tax bills include local school district taxes, which are collected by the County, but forwarded to the State. Delaware law requires Sussex County to bill property owners for school taxes on behalf of the eight public school districts within the county.
This year’s tax bills include a one-time credit on the County portion of the statement for those property owners who are current on their payments. The credit, approved by County Council last year following a budget surplus, represents a nearly 8 percent reduction in the County property tax; it does not apply to the school portion of the bill.
Sussex County accepts tax payments by cash, check, money order or credit card. Taxpayers have different options to make their payments. These include:
THROUGH LENDER
Many taxpayers have their annual taxes paid out of an escrow account by their mortgage lenders. If these taxpayers have any questions regarding the status of their escrow accounts, they should contact their lenders.
ONLINE
Payment can be made on the Internet, with the use of most major credit cards or by check. Go to www.sussexcountyde.gov/e-service/propertytaxes/ and select “Make a Payment” on the left side for more information. Beginning this year, the County has reduced the online transaction fee from 2.5 percent to a flat $1 charge to encourage more online payments.
BY MAIL
Property owners can mail their tax payments using the return envelopes included in their statements. Bills should be addressed to the Sussex County Treasury Division, PO Box 429, Georgetown, DE 19947. All payments sent by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 1 to avoid the 1.5 percent penalty, per month, on unpaid balances.
IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE
The County’s tax office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The office is located on the second floor, Room 252, of the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown. Tax payments also can be left in the office’s after-hours drop box located in the lobby. For more information, call (302) 855-7760.
