Tax Bills to be Received Week of July 31, Says Pappas

Cook County property owners will receive property tax bills during the week of July 31, 2006, and the due date for on-time payment will be September 1, 2006, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced today.

The bills, the second installment for tax year 2005, go to owners of more than 1.6 million parcels of homes and other real estate across Cook County. Pappas said payments received after September 1, 2006, will be penalized 1.5 percent per month.

Pappas said payments are accepted:

• On www.cookcountytreasurer.com from a checking or savings account, which will be recorded as on time until 11:59 p.m., September 1. Partial payments and year-round payments can be made on the treasurer's website.
• At 293 Chase Bank locations, until the close of business.
• By direct debit at 211 participating community banks, until the close of business.
• By mail in an envelope that comes with the bill, postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than September 1, 2006.

"Finding a manner of payment is easier than ever," Pappas said. "I urge everyone to pay on time and avoid penalties for late payment."

Pappas' office collects more than $9 billion in property taxes yearly in two installments, then distributes the revenue to some 1,600 local municipalities, school boards, library districts and police and fire districts and other units of local government across Cook County.