RELEASE DATE: Friday, March 18, 2022
Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, advises taxpayers who have not paid their 2021 property taxes, to consider mailing in their property tax payments or paying online at www.polktaxes.com. Thursday, March 31 is not only the end of the month, but it is the deadline for the timely payment of 2021 real estate and tangible personal property taxes. This makes the last week of the month some of the busiest days in the Tax Collector’s Service Centers.
The end of the month is always a busy day in our Service Centers,Tedder states, We are serving driver license customers and continuing to serve those individuals needing to renew their vehicle registrations. Our tax collector offices have seen a significant increase in walk-in transactions which means longer than normal wait times for customers. This is why we are reminding the public that there are multiple ways to conduct their transaction without conducting a transaction in person.
If you don’t need to be in our lobbies, I urge you to skip the line, Tedder suggests, especially if you can mail in your property tax payment. For those of you with March birthdays that need a simple vehicle registration renewal, I urge you to consider doing your transaction online, by mail, or at one of our kiosks.
Customers who need to renew their vehicle registrations, including heavy trucks (with a GVW under 26,000 pounds), can utilize the Florida MV Express KIOSK services available at our Lakeland and Davenport Service Centers, as well as in the Oakbridge and Grove Park Publix locations in Lakeland. Publix offers no line, instant printing, extended hours and Saturday convenience, all while shopping for essential grocery items. Customers interested in using the KIOSK services should bring their registration renewal notice or license plate number and cash, credit, or debit card for payment to complete the transaction. For customers outside of the Lakeland area, the Tax Collector’s Office recommends using mail and online services, including Express PickUp, whenever possible.
Express Pick-Up allows customers to go online to complete their transaction, select a Service Center where they can pick up their registration and decal, and do it all the same day without waiting in line. Vehicle transactions conducted online may be made by credit card or E-check. E-checks are the same as personal checks drawn on taxpayers bank accounts, requiring a routing and checking account number but carrying no convenience fee.
Drivers who already have a Real-ID compliant driver licenses may also renew online.
To summarize, taxpayers have the following options of making property tax payments: online, by mail, or in person. Drop boxes inside each service center are also provided for making property tax payments.
Mail-in payments should be addressed to Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, P.O. Box 1189, Bartow, Florida, 33831-1189. Mail-in payments may be made by way of a check or money order made payable to Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector. Checks must be in U.S. funds and drawn on U.S. banks. (Do not send cash through the mail).
Taxpayers are reminded that when mailing in payments, the postmark on the envelope date-stamps the payment, and taxpayers can still mail their property tax payments as late as Thursday, March 31 and avoid penalties and late charges.
Property tax payment transactions may also be conducted online at www.PolkTaxes.com. There are no convenience fees when paying by E-check (using bank routing and account numbers).
Finally, property tax payments may be paid in person or by placing payments in drop boxes (do not place cash in the drop boxes) located inside the Service Centers, and at the Winter Haven Tag Agency, located at 300 Avenue M, N.W., all of which are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding weekends and observed holidays).
For additional information, service center or kiosk locations, please visit www.PolkTaxes.com or call the Tax Collector’s Office at (863) 534-4700.
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About the Office of Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, Florida
Joe G. Tedder is elected by the people of Polk County to serve as their Tax Collector. The Office of Tax Collector is provided in Florida Constitution to serve in the state political subdivisions known as counties. The Tax Collector Office for Polk County has service centers in Bartow, Lakeland, Davenport, and Lake Wales. The Tax Collector Office serves over 720,000 residents in Polk County, offering services such as: Driver licenses and identification cards; motor vehicle registrations, decals, license plates, titles and disabled person parking placards; real estate and tangible personal property taxes; county local business taxes; tourist development taxes; concealed weapons license applications and renewals; and, other services.