Woodbridge, Va. –– Personal property taxes are due Tuesday, and if you don’t pay on time you’re going to pay more in the end.
For those in the Woodbridge area who pay late, a computer system notifies Prince William officials and a letter is then sent out telling the late payer they owe penalties and interest, and any amount they might have underpaid in their original payment, said county spokeswoman Nikki Brown.
Last year in Prince William, 3,700 letters notifying residents of late payments were mailed in October and November.
For those who don’t pay anything at all, they too get a letter in the mail notifying them they are delinquent.
The letter also shows the original tax amount plus interest and penalties that they will owe if they don’t pay within 30 days. If not paid within 30 days, officials will submit a claim to have the back taxes taken out of any future tax return, and then will place a hold on their Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles account, preventing them from doing major transactions with DMV, until the taxes are paid.
“At this point, if we get a match on their state income tax refund and they have a registration block, they will have incurred additional late charges and collection fees of around $60 on a bill that was only $100 in the first place. Obviously higher bills incur larger late payment penalties and interest,” said Brown.
While officials encourage residents to pay on time, they say residents should at least make a partial payment, as anything paid prior to the due date lowers the amount of late payment and interest they’ll owe later.
Residents who get a late notice in the mail should contact their county tax office immediately if they cannot pay the amount in 30 days. A payment arrangement can be worked out, and it bars officials from taking further actions, such as bank and wage garnishments, said Prince William County Assistant Finance Director Steve Ferlotti.
Prince William officials have outlined the details about how to pay your personal property taxes.
In Stafford County, personal property taxes are assessed twice a year, with taxes due June 5 and Dec. 5.
But if residents pay late they also are subject to penalties, said Stafford spokeswoman Cathy Riddle.
After 30 days, the treasurer’s office sends out a notice when a tax bill becomes 30 days late.
That letter includes a 10-percent penalty fee, and the collection rate for the county then increases to 88 percent, said Riddle.
Many who get the late notices usually pay within 30 days, she said.
