As the Sept. 30 deadline nears for New Castle County property taxes and State of Delaware school taxes, county officials have announced payment and information options for residents’ convenience.
The options aim to help residents make timely payments to avoid penalties that – by law – start Oct. 1, with a 6-percent penalty followed by an additional 1 percent each month thereafter, said Michael Coupe, who directs the county’s Office of Finance.
Property owners who misplaced, lost or failed to receive bills may download duplicates by accessing county records at www.nccde.org/parcelview, Coupe said, adding the site also details payment histories and breakouts of parcels’ specific charges for property, school, light and crossing guard taxes.
Assistance is offered for property owners who need more information by the New Castle County billing information line at (302) 323-2600, he said.
County property taxes and state school taxes, set by local school districts, are combined into one billing statement, sent by the county, which has no involvement in school taxes beyond their collection and transfer to districts.
However, property owners may pay both with a single check or money order payable to “New Castle County” using return envelopes provided with statements, or may send them to New Castle County Taxes, P.O. Box 430, Claymont, DE 19703.
Payments also may be made at the New Castle County Government Center at 87 Read’s Way, near New Castle, where hours are being extended before the payment deadline.
Cash, check, money order, Discover Card and PIN debit card payments are accepted at the government center’s payment window, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
On Thursday, Sept. 29, and Friday, Sept. 30, the payment window will stay open to 6 p.m.
Payments also may be made using a secure, 24-hour drop-box at the main entrance to the government center.
For the convenience of residents of southern New Castle County, payments also will be accepted on two days in Middletown.
Those dates are Thursday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 21.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those dates only, payments may be made in the Recreation Center at the Appoquinimink Library using cash, check, money order or PIN debit card. For GPS, the library’s address is 651 N Broad St #101, Middletown, DE 19709.
In addition to paying by mail or in person, residents also may pay by phone with small fees.
The New Castle County Office of Finance accepts payments by Discover Card at (302) 323-2600, with the card company basing its fee on the amount paid.
Paymentus, a third-party company that accepts payments, charges a service fee of 2.5 percent of the total payment.
That service accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and electronic checks. Paymentus may be accessed through a link on the New Castle County site at www.nccde.org or, toll-free, at (877) 225-7351. Anyone with questions about Paymentus should call its Customer Contact Center at (800) 420-1663.