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If you enjoy the benefits of earning rewards with your credit card, you may be interested in paying property taxes that way. After all, it can be one of the largest expenses for many homeowners and may yield many points or other perks. Also, some people may not have the cash available for taxes on the due date and choose to use a credit card to pay their bill over time.
The good news is that many states, counties, and other local jurisdictions do allow you to pay your property taxes with a credit card. However, in many cases, there is a processing fee associated with a credit card payment. Depending on the fee that’s charged and the card you use, paying your property taxes with a credit card may or may not be a good idea. Take a closer look.
Key Points
• Many states and counties permit property tax payments via credit card, though a processing fee is often applied.
• Credit card payments can earn rewards, but fees may negate these benefits.
• Paying taxes with a credit card can help you meet spending requirements for bonuses.
• Using a credit card to pay property taxes might impact your credit score and high-interest debt levels if not managed properly.
• Local tax authority policies should be checked for accepted payment methods and associated fees.
Can You Pay Property Taxes With a Credit Card?
Many states and counties allow you to pay property taxes with a credit card. In some cases, they process any payments directly. Other jurisdictions may partner with a third-party processing company to handle payments.
In many cases, a processing fee will apply. This fee is generally around 2%-3% of the payment or higher. For example, Hamilton County in Ohio charges a 2.35% fee for credit card payments, while Cook County in Illinois charges a fee of 2.08%.
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Pros and Cons of Paying Property Taxes With a Credit Card
For many homeowners, property taxes and mortgage payments are some of the largest expenses in their budget. So it makes sense that you might try to offset some of the cost by earning credit card rewards on the purchase.
For instance, if you get cash back, this could allow you to recoup some money when you pay your taxes.
However, there are potential downsides to paying property taxes with a credit card to take into consideration as well. For one, you may pay a processing fee. You also could owe interest charges and see an impact on your credit score, depending on how you manage your credit card bill.
Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of paying property taxes with a credit card:
thumb_upPros:
• Can earn you credit card rewards
• May help you meet requirements to earn a sign-up bonus on a new credit card
• Could allow you to use a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) offer from a new card or by doing a balance transfer to pay your tax bill over time
thumb_downCons:
• Will likely incur a processing fee
• Could raise your credit utilization, which could negatively impact your credit score
• Can lead to high interest rates if you don’t pay off your credit card bill in full
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Paying Your Property Taxes With a Credit Card: 4 Steps
Just like paying your mortgage with a credit card, paying your property taxes with a credit card usually takes a few simple steps. While the exact steps will vary depending on your local tax authority, here is the basic flow.
1. Enter Your Property Tax Information
First, you enter your property information. Many counties have assigned all property into specific parcel IDs. If you’re not sure about your parcel ID, you can usually look that up with your address or other identifying information.
2. Enter or Confirm Any Required Personal Information
Once you have entered the required information pertaining to the parcel you’re paying property taxes on, you may be asked to enter or confirm some of your personal information. This helps ensure you’re paying for the correct piece of real property.
3. Choose Your Payment Method and Amount
Next, you will choose the credit card you want to use. Because most jurisdictions charge a processing fee for paying your property taxes with a credit card, you’ll want to be careful about which card you use.
There are, of course, many different types of credit cards. If you have a rewards credit card with a rewards rate that’s higher than the processing fee you’re being charged, that may be a good card to use. You might also consider a new card on which you’re attempting to meet the spending requirement to earn a sign-up bonus.
If your card has a high spending requirement, paying your taxes with a credit card can help you fulfill that requirement. If you need more time to pay your bill, you might also consider a card with an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) offer.
Once you’ve decided on your card, enter it into the tax processing website. Similar to paying bills with a credit card, you’ll likely need to enter your name as it appears on the card, your full credit card number, the expiration date, and the CVV code.
4. Submit Your Payment
The final step in paying taxes with a credit card is to submit your payment. If a confirmation page is shown, you may want to print it for your records in case there’s a dispute about whether your property taxes have been paid. You also may be able to choose to receive an email confirmation.
Types of Cards You Can Use to Pay Property Taxes
There are many credit cards that you could use to pay your property taxes. Visa and Mastercard are the two most prevalent, but many tax authorities accept American Express, Discover, or other types of credit cards. Check with your local tax authority to see what types of cards you can use in your area.
You may be able to use a debit card as well. While the benefits of credit cards include rewards and other perks, fees are often lower for debit cards than credit cards.
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The Takeaway
It’s generally possible to pay property taxes with a credit card, though it depends on the policies and laws in your specific jurisdiction. However, many states and counties charge a processing fee to accept credit card payments for property taxes, and the fees may be higher than the value of any rewards that you may earn on your card. Check with your local tax authority to see what options you have in your area.
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FAQ
Which states allow you to pay property tax with a credit card?
Where you can pay property tax with a credit card varies widely depending on a property’s exact location. States, counties, cities, and school districts may all have different laws and policies. If you’re not sure whether you can pay property tax with a credit card, check with your local tax authority.
Can you get cash back by paying property tax with your credit card?
Yes, one benefit of credit cards is that you may be able to earn cash back or other rewards with each purchase, including if you pay property taxes with your credit card. However, in many cases, you will be charged a processing fee by your local taxing authority. Make sure that the value of any rewards you earn exceeds the fees you may have to pay.
Will paying property taxes with a credit card positively impact your credit score?
Paying property taxes with your credit card will likely not have an impact on your credit score if you pay your statement on time and in full. However, if you pay your taxes with a credit card but don’t pay your credit card bill when it’s due, that may have a negative impact on your credit score.
Photo credit: iStock/xijian
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Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
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