Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, announced the collection of the 2017 real estate and tangible personal property taxes begins November 1. This year’s rolls include 177,560 accounts totaling $278 million. Bills will be delivered to the post office on October 31 for mailing.
Chapter 197.162, Florida Statutes provides discounts for early payments as follows:
- November payments are discounted four percent
- December payments are discounted three percent
- January payments are discounted two percent
- February payments are discounted one percent
- March payments receive no discount and the gross amount is due by close of business on March 31, 2017. Any payment made April 1 and after is considered delinquent and will be assessed a three percent penalty.
When mailed, discounts are determined by postmark of payment. When a discount period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the discount period will be extended to the next business day for walk-in customers only.
Many payment options are available:
- online
- in person at any of our four convenient tax collector offices
- 24–hour drop box
- phone – please call 438-6500, ext. 3252
In addition, help is available for those taxpayers who may need to make partial payments. If a property owner decides to make partial payments, the following information applies:
- Property owner must submit an application (found on the back of the tax bill or available at the tax collector’s office) with initial partial payment.
- Partial payments are accepted for current year taxes only between November 1 and March 31.
- No discount allowed for partial payments.
- A $10 processing fee deducted from each partial payment.
- Partial payments are not accepted after March 31, and any remaining balance as of April 1 is delinquent and subject to all applicable penalties and fees.
Lunsford also encourages taxpayers to take advantage of the Tax Payment Installment Plan. By utilizing this plan, taxpayers make four quarterly payments instead of one lump sum payment. Each quarterly bill will receive a different discount for early payment as prescribed by Florida Statutes. The quarterly payments are due by the last day of June, September, December and March. The Installment Payment Plan application deadline for 2018 property taxes is April 30, 2018.
Property owners can download an application here and mail it in, or pick up a printed application at any office location.
Lunsford said, “The installment program not only helps ease the financial burden on taxpayers by allowing them to spread out the payments, it also provides a discount for making payments on time.”
Find more information on the installment plan here.
Tax revenue is generated for the various taxing authorities and is approximated as follows:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – $127 million
- District School Board – $119 million
- City of Pensacola – $18 million
- Sheriff MSTU – $7.7 million
- Library MSTU – $5.8 million
- Northwest Florida Water Management – $584,000
- Downtown Improvement Board – $390,100
- Town of Century – $32,600
Additionally, MSBU collections include:
- County fire protection – $17.4 million
- City Stormwater – $2.7 million
- Other MSBUs – $2.3 million
If you do not receive your tax bill by November 10, please call us at 438-6500, ext. 3252.
We also offer a more convenient way to wait in line for walk-in services. Customers, who do not have an appointment, can still save time by downloading the QLess app (available for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play) or by texting an office location to join a line immediately. With this system, customers can check in from anywhere. Customers will receive status updates and be able to request additional time, if necessary.
Text the office location to (850) 344-1875 (after 8:30 a.m.):
- ectc downtown
- ectc marcus pointe
- ectc Molino
- ectc warrrington
To check the status of your taxes or to pay online, click here.
Taxpayers are encouraged to contact us by phone or email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com with any questions.