FAQ
Frequent and Commonly asked Questions for the Athens County Treasurer
When are my real estate taxes due?
2nd half due date will be August 12 for both Real Estate and Mobile home taxes.
How much are my real estate taxes?
You can determine the amount of your taxes by clicking on the Search & Pay Online button located on the righthand side of our homepage and finding your property.
To whom do I make the check payable?
Athens County Treasurer Ric Wasserman
Can I write just one check even though I have multiple bill stubs?
Yes you can. If you send your payment in the mail, please be sure to include your bill stubs so that the office knows how to distribute the total of the check.
Where can I pay my real estate tax bill?
Online! Simply click on the Search & Pay Online button located on the righthand side of our homepage. Agree to the terms, find your property, then select how much you want to pay. Follow the ensuing directions and click on the View Cart options located in a couple spots on the page. This function is suspended for several weeks after each tax due-date to allow us to settle the tax collection.
In person at the Treasurer’s Office located at 15 S Court St., Room 334, Athens, OH 45701. We are open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
At the bank BEFORE each tax due date you can pay at any one of the following financial institutions (Athens County Branches only) with your bill stub:
- Hocking Valley Bank
- The Peoples’ Bank
- First National Bank of McConnelsville
- Atomic Credit Union
- Ohio University Credit Union
- Merchant’s National Bank
NOTE: You do not have to be a customer of these institutions to drop-off your payment with them. However, you DO have to have your bill you received in the mail. Once the due-date passes they can no longer accept payments.
Are credit cards and e-checks accepted?
YES, Master Card, Visa, and Discover cards are accepted online or by calling (1-740-486-9055). American Express is accepted online only. There is a convenience fee charged for these services. For Credit Cards, the fee is 2.3% per transaction. For e-checks, the fee is a flat $0.50. Cheaper than postage!
What is the best way to pay my taxes?
The most efficient method for paying your tax bill(s) is by clicking on the Search & Pay Online button located on the righthand side of our homepage and paying by E-Check which is an electronic check (ACH) using your bank’s routing number and whatever checking or savings account number you wish to use.
Can I prepay my real estate taxes on a monthly basis?
YES. You may make pre-payments anytime at our office. OR you may enroll in our Escrow Program. For more information on that program go to our Forms & Documents page under Escrow Forms.
Have my real estate taxes been paid?
You can find out if your taxes have been paid by clicking on the Search & Pay Online button located on the righthand side of our homepage to find your property.
What if I pay my taxes late?
Payments will not be accepted on the website for a period of time after the due date. Payments can be made in the office or mailed to our office. If your payment is paid or post-marked after the due date, State Law mandates a penalty be assessed. The penalties are as follows:
Payments made after the due date will be assessed a 10% penalty.
Interest charges at a rate of 4% will be applied to severely delinquent balances according to state law.
Can I appeal to have my penalty waived?
YES, you can apply to have your penalty waived. Simply click HERE for the Application for the Remission of Penalty Form. Complete the form, print it out, and mail it to the Treasurer’s Office.
Can a receipt for real estate tax payments be sent to me by mail?
YES. To get a receipt when making your tax payment by mail, enclose your entire bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment.
How can I change the mailing address for my real estate tax bill?
To change the mailing address of your tax bill you may:
E-mail our office providing parcel ID(s) and what address to change the mailing information to or
Go to Search & Pay Online ⇒ Search for your parcel(s) ⇒ “View Details” button ⇒ “Request Mailing Change” button ⇒ Fill out the online form ⇒ Submit the form
Why is the previous owner’s name on my tax bill?
When a property has been recently transferred it takes until the next tax year to clear the previous owner’s name out of the system. This does not mean that you are not responsible for the payment of your real estate tax bill.
What should I do if I didn’t receive a tax bill?
Click on the Search & Pay Online button located on the righthand side of our homepage to find your property, click on the gray button titled “View Details”, then click on the dark blue button titled “Download Bill”.
My real estate taxes are paid with my mortgage, but I received a tax bill. What should I do?
If you receive a tax bill in error, contact your mortgage company immediately to determine if they have collected the funds and intend to pay the bill.
How are my taxes determined?
Your Market Value is multiplied by 35% to arrive at your Assessed Value. Your Assessed Value is then multiplied by the Effective Tax Rate for your political subdivision to arrive at your Gross Tax.
What if I want to contest the valuation of my property?
The Athens County Board of Revision hears formal complaints on property valuations and appraisals. BOR complaints are accepted for a limited period after January 1st each year..
Filing a complaint allows property owners to have a hearing before the Board of Revision, which is comprised of the County Auditor, County Treasurer and President of the Board of Commissioners or their representatives. At the hearing, property owners may present information such as recent appraisals or sales data for similar properties in support of their complaints. For more information, call (740) 592-3223.
More information and forms for download can be found at this link on the Athens County Auditor’s website. When you go to the Auditor’s website, select Board of Revision under the Links section in the left column.
Why are real estate taxes collected one year in arrears?
Tax levies are imposed in the year voted on by the citizenry. For example, during the regular May primary or November general elections, the levies passed by the voters are for that current tax year. However, the tax bills are actually payable in the following year. For example, the voters approve a five year levy in November of 2011 – the tax bills for 2011 will be payable in 2012.
Is there a real estate tax deduction for elderly or disabled people?
YES. The Homestead Credit is available to anyone 65 years of age or older who has income less than $34,200 or who is permanently and totally disabled, and who apply for this credit with the Athens County Auditor’s Office between the first Monday in January and the first Monday in June. You can access more information about this credit, including a brochure, applications and other documents, by clicking HERE and selecting Homestead Exemption under Links section in the left column. Simply complete the form, print it out, and mail it to the Athens County Auditor prior to the deadline. Postmarks are acceptable. For more information, please call the Auditor’s office at (740) 592-3223.