Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded Cook County property owners that Friday, March 1, 2002, is the due date for first-installment 2001 real-estate taxes to be paid by mail, at LaSalle Banks or in person at the office in downtown Chicago.

To meet the deadline, taxpayers may submit payments:

• BY MAIL: The payment envelope must feature a U.S. Postal Service postmark of Fri., March 1, 2002.
• AT LASALLE BANKS: Present the entire tax bill with payment at any of more than 120 LaSalle Bank lobbies or drive-up windows.
• ON THE INTERNET: Taxpayers may follow the instructions after clicking "On-line Payment" icon at www.cookcountytreasurer.com to pay from any bank's checking or savings account. This is the only on-line payment system authorized by the Cook County Treasurer's Office.

First-installment bills are estimates that equal one-half of the prior year's taxes and are issued on 1.6 million parcels of real estate in Cook County. By state law, the late-payment penalty is 1.5 percent per month.

"Property owners who pay taxes through a mortgage escrow account should avoid double-paying, but they should verify that a payment has been made by checking the ‘payment status' of our web site on March 6, as many mortgage companies will submit or mail their payments on or around the due date," Pappas said.