MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Tax Collector’s office is initiating the final drive for collections of taxes owed the County, and all entities for whom they collect, in preparation for the fiscal year-end closing on June 30.
The Tax Collector’s office has instituted rigorous collection methods for both secured and unsecured taxes in order to realize the most benefit possible for the taxpayers of Madera County, who receive a share of these collections via this vital revenue stream, says Tracy Kennedy Desmond, Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector..
The methods consist of till taps, bank levies, or implementing an intercept program, which allows the tax collector to intercept tax refunds to a taxpayer if there are unpaid delinquent taxes. The Tax Collector also issues reminder notices to taxpayers who have delinquent secured taxes and are on a contracted payment plan.
“We are working very diligently to collect all of the valid taxes due,” says Kennedy Desmond. “In regard to delinquent unsecured taxes, we only have a limited time to affect collection activity.”
Tax bills are created through an assessed valuation placed on a property, either secured property or unsecured personal property, by the County Assessor, and taxes levied from these rolls are based on that value. Farm and business personal property is taxable and valued on an annual basis in the form of an unsecured tax bill.
If a taxpayer has received a collection notice on a particular unsecured tax bill, but has questions on the valuation or needs to report the closure of their business, then they need to contact the Assessor’s office to have them do the appropriate research.
If there is an assessed value out there that has created a tax bill, the Tax Collector’s office must go forward as if that is a valid and collectible tax bill until the taxpayer or the Assessor provides them with different information. The Madera County Assessor’s office can be contacted at 559-675-7710.
“This is one of the unpopular parts of my position,” says Kennedy Desmond. “Collecting valid taxes is of course expected of me, but if we are trying to collect taxes when the taxpayer thinks this is not a valid tax bill or they have closed their business, it can be a very emotional situation and we understand completely.”
Any taxes that are due on June 30 must be postmarked by that date and sent into the tax collector’s office to avoid additional penalties. The Tax Collector’s office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reached by calling 559-675-7713. Property owners may also view their property tax information online at www.madera-county.com/treasurer.
