Average November Early Payment Discount is $139 in Orange County
Orange County Tax Collector’s Office Will be Closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving
This week marks the last week that homeowners can receive a 4% early payment discount by paying their property taxes during the month of November, Tax Collector Scott Randolph announced.
While tax bills are due April 1, 2020, taxpayers may pay their bills now either online, in person or by mail and qualify for an early payment discount. Taxpayers who pay their bills early will receive a 4% discount if paid in November, a 3% discount in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. The Tax Collector’s office will be closed Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 to observe the Thanksgiving holiday.
For the average Orange County homeowner with an assessed home value of $214,829, the 4% November discount will mean about $139 in savings. Randolph said those savings, which equal about four tanks of gas, are particularly important for middle class families and seniors.
“For working families, and seniors especially, every dollar counts when it comes to planning the monthly budget,” Tax Collector Scott Randolph said. “One-hundred and thirty-nine dollars can go a long way for a lot of families in our community, particularly around the holiday season. That’s why I encourage everyone who can to take advantage of the early payment discount program.”
Last year, 95% of Orange County tax bills received an early payment discount; 85% of bills were paid in November, 5% were paid in December, 3% were paid in January and 2% were paid in February.
Orange County taxpayers can pay their taxes online and sign up to receive Paperless Tax Bills at octaxcol.com.
2019 Orange County Taxes by the Numbers
- $2,623,719,600 – Total value of property taxes
- $214,829 – Average assessed value of single-family homes
- $3,463 – Average tax bill for single-family homes
- 518,516 – Tax bills mailed by the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office
- 293,817 – Single-family homes
- 60,049 – Tangible personal property accounts
- 50,122 – Residential condos
- 4,077 – Multi-family homes
How Are Taxes Collected?
To ensure a system of checks and balances, the responsibility of setting tax rates, determining property values and collecting taxes are carried out by separate governing entities, each held accountable by the residents for which they serve.
- Tax rates are set. The Board of County Commissioners, School Board, City Commissioners and other tax-levying bodies set the millage rate, which is the rate of tax per one thousand dollars of taxable value. Non-Ad Valorem assessments, such as streetlights, sewage and road improvements are levied on a unit basis rather than the value of property.
- Property values are determined. The Property Appraiser establishes the value of property in Orange County and approves exemptions, including the homestead exemption. Based on the values and exemptions assessed, the Property Appraiser certifies the Tax Roll to the Tax Collector.
- Taxes are collected. The Tax Collector is responsible for mailing tax bills, collecting taxes and distributing revenue to the 63 different taxing authorities in Orange County. The Tax Collector also performs tax certificate sales, collects tangible personal property taxes and distributes its budget surplus to the taxing authorities.
