New Castle, DE – New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer applauded members of council on the introduction of Ordnance 20-099, which waives late fees on late property tax payments caused by COVID-19. The ordnance, sponsored by Councilman George Smiley, will be voted on in two weeks.
“We will get through this together,” said County Executive Meyer. “And we will get through this by finding those families and businesses most harmed by this year of crisis and giving them time to make payments, without penalty.”
“This is just another way your county government is doing everything it can to help the residents of New Castle County through this challenging time,” said Councilman George Smiley (7th District).
Applicants will be able to apply for certification that their late payments were caused by a COVID-19 financial hardship. Once the ordinance is signed into code, taxpayers will be able to apply for late fee waivers by an online application or mail in application. Details will be posted on the County website in the coming weeks.
The ordinance proposes New Castle County’s Chief Financial Officer Michael Smith authorization to abate up to six (6) months of penalties charged for late payment of County taxes billed in the Fiscal Year 2021 tax bill due September 30, 2020. Penalties for Fiscal Year 2021 school taxes and for unpaid balances of any County or school taxes billed prior to Fiscal Year 2021 will continue to accrue.
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