Pappas: On-line Payments Possible Year-Round

In a dramatic expansion of on-line property tax payments, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today that property owners now can make full or partial current-year property-tax payments over her office's Web site every day of the year.

Pappas inaugurated on-line payments early in 2002, allowing Cook County property owners to pay out of checking or savings accounts for approximately one month before midnight of the due date of a given installment.

Now, the service is being made year-round and for good reason, Pappas said.

"It's another convenience for the taxpayer and more efficiency for our office," she said, noting that on-line payments per installment have increased from about 7,900 in 2002 to more than 38,000 for the first installment bill for tax year 2004, collected earlier this year.

Taxpayers can visit www.cookcountytreasurer.com, click on "payments" and follow the prompts to pay electronically out of checking or savings accounts. While full or partial payments can be made, individual overpayments will not be accepted to protect the taxpayer and eliminate the need to process a refund later, Pappas said.

"The idea is to make it as convenient as possible for people to pay the taxes on their cherished homes and other property," Pappas said. "Making on-line payment a year-round option does that."