Tax Collection Questions & Answers

Tax Collection Questions & Answers

1. What is my parcel identification number (PIN)
   • Your PIN number, or parcel identification number, identifies your particular piece of property.  If you need this number, contact the Chief County Assessment Office at (815) 895-7120.  You can give them your name and the property address, and they can provide you with your PIN number.
2. I haven’t received my tax bill yet. When will I get it?
   • Tax bills were mailed on Friday, April 28, 2023.  If you do not receive your bill by May 15, 2023, or need a duplicate bill, they are available online through our Property Tax Inquiry portal, or please contact our office at (815) 895-7112 or via email, treasurer@dekalbconty.org.
3. What if I do not receive a bill?
   • If you do not receive a bill, it is your responsibility to download a copy from our Property Tax Inquiry portal, or contact our office to get a duplicate bill.  If you are a new homeowner and the bill was issued in the previous owner’s name, contact the Treasurer’s Office for a duplicate bill.  Failure to receive a tax bill, or receiving one late for any reason, will not relieve the taxpayer from paying taxes or late penalties.
4. What if I just purchased the property and didn’t own it last year?
   • New homeowners should check their real estate closing documents, or with their title company or attorney, to see if they owe taxes due this year.  Depending upon the closing and document recording dates, the tax bill may have been sent to the previous owner.  If you find that you do owe taxes, please contact the Treasurer’s office for a duplicate bill.  By acting quickly, you may avoid delinquent taxes and penalties.
5. What if I receive a bill that is not my responsibility to pay?
   • If a mortgage company is to pay your bill, it is your responsibility to call them and ask if you need to send them a copy.  Many mortgage companies now pay electronically and may not require a bill.  If you no longer own the property, it is your responsibility to forward the bill to the new owner.
6. When is each installment due?
   • The first installment is due on Monday, June 5, 2023. The second installment is due on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
7. Can I pay both installments at once?
   • Yes, as long as it is done on or before the first installment due date.
8. What are the different ways that I can pay my bill?
   • You may pay your bill online with an E-Check for a $1.00 convenience fee.
     To pay online, log on to www.dekalbcounty.org and click on the red letters, under the picture that say “Pay My Real Estate/Mobile Home Taxes”.  Enter your parcel number or name or address (House Number/Street/City – For the street name, do not include directional i.e. N, S, E, W…, or street type i.e. St, Dr…), follow the prompts, and check out using the Shopping Cart link located near the upper right of the screen. More in-depth online payment instructions can be found HERE.
     You may also pay online with Discover Card, MasterCard (credit or debit), Visa (credit or debit), or American Express credit cards. And new this year, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, Paypal Credit, or Venmo. A convenience fee or 2.60%, charged by the electronic payment processor, will apply.
     The convenience fee applied for using online payment options is not calculated, charged, or collected by the DeKalb County Treasurer’s Office.
   • Through our dedicated Automated Phone Payment System.  Call 855-544-1055 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.  Payments can be made by MasterCard (credit or debit), Discover, Visa (credit or debit), American Express, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. A convenience fee of 2.60% will be added. You may also use an electronic check; A $1 convenience fee will apply.  An additional $1 convivence will apply to all phone payments.
   • You may pay your bill at most banks throughout DeKalb County, on or before the due date. Banks cannot accept any payments after the due date. Take your entire bill to the bank.  Please be sure to write your parcel number on your check to ensure proper credit.  Your canceled check will be your receipt.
   • You may pay your bill by mail. Include the proper installment stub(s), ensure your check is written properly, and write your parcel number on your check to ensure proper credit.  Your canceled check will be your receipt.  Your payment must be postmarked on or before the due date.  It is strongly recommended that you take your payment inside the post office and have them hand cancel it at their counter.  We accept personal or business checks until Friday, September 22, 2023.If you would like a printed receipt, please include a self-address stamped envelope with your payment.
   • You may pay in person at the DeKalb County Treasurer/Collector’s Office, 4th Floor, Administration Building, 110 E. Sycamore Street, Sycamore using:
     • • Personal or Business checks, until Friday, September 22, 2023.
       • MasterCard (credit or debit), Discover, Visa (credit or debit), American Express, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. A convenience fee of 2.60% will be added. You may also use an electronic check; A $1 convenience fee will apply. Credit and debit cards are accepted through Friday, October 13, 2023.
       • Cash, cashier’s checks, or money orders, any time until Friday, October 20, 2023.Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
9. Do you accept postmark?
   • Yes, we do.  Be sure to mail your payment on or before the due date, and that the Post Office marks your envelope with the date that you mail your payment.  It is strongly recommended that you take your payment inside the Post Office and have it hand canceled at the counter, particularly if you are mailing it close to or on the due date.
10. When the first installment due date has passed, how much do I pay?
    • The total due for the first installment after the due date should include a penalty amount of 1.5% per month.  The penalty amounts, and dates the amounts are valid, are listed on the payment stub. Once the due date has passed, banks can no longer accept first installment payments.
11. When does the penalty increase again?
    • The penalty amount increases every 30 days.
12. What happens if I do not pay my taxes by the second installment due date?
    • After the second installment payments are posted, delinquent bills will be sent by certified mail.  At that time, there is a $10.00 per parcel charge for sending the delinquent bill as certified mail and for the publication of names of delinquent taxpayers in the newspapers. This is in addition to the penalties assessed after the due date(s).
13. Will you still accept personal checks and on-line payments once taxes become delinquent?
    • We will accept personal or business checks until Friday, September 22, 2023. After that date, you must pay with cash, cashier’s check, or money order.  Online payments are accepted until Friday, October 13, 2023.
14. What if I cannot pay my taxes?  What will happen to my property?
    • If you are late, you may still pay your taxes and penalties up until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023. We are required by law to hold a tax sale, which will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023.  At that time, your taxes will be sold to someone who will pay them for you. It is important to note, that the property itself is not sold.  After the tax sale, you will be liable for the tax amount and penalties sold at the tax sale, additional fees, and interest at a rate determined on the day of the sale. For redemption information, please contact the County Clerk at (815) 895-7149.
15. What do I do if I believe my tax bill is incorrect?
    • Your tax bill is determined by two factors: the equalized assessed value of your property, and the tax rate.Questions regarding equalized assessed values or exemptions should be directed to the Chief County Assessments Office at (815) 895-7120.Tax rates are computed by the County Clerk based on the amount levied by each local governmental taxing body.  Questions regarding tax rates and tax levies should be directed to the County Clerk’s Office at (815) 895-7152.

      To protest a tax rate, please contact the DeKalb County Treasurer’s office for detailed instructions for filing an appeal. To effectively appeal a tax rate, you must prove that the rate or a portion of the rate is illegal or excessive. Please contact our office via email at treasurer@dekalbcounty.org for detailed instructions for filing an appeal of your tax rate.