I pay my taxes via personal check but I just signed up for electronic withdrawl from my checking account. That'll go into effect with the next quarter. Call Maureen at 201--547-5120 / 5526 and they'll fax you a form. It's a simple ACH form. You can also stop by & fill one out at the counter.
The form may also be on the city's mediocre website....

As for the personal check, I think there's some confusion. If you were late for the May taxes due by the 10th, then they won't accept personal checks.... The city will have a lien sale by mid-June. The city's year-end is 6/30th so the lien sale is to clean up the Balance Sheet & the Allowance of Uncollected Taxes.... an accounting issue... Because of this sale no personal checks are accepted after the 10th. It's an annual event....

Sounds like you were late ... I suggest you sign up for the electronic withdrawl. I've been told checking accounts will be charged (debited) the 9th or so....

"If there's a logical reasoning behind such a policy I'd love to hear it otherwise that's just pathetic."


Well, I can see that there'd be reasons for not accepting personal checks....

1 - Everytime one bounces, the bank charges them a fee, plus then they have to send out letters, etc to get the resident to pay up. This costs time and money.

2- Banks often don't release money for days and when you're talking millions of dollars, the interest on one day alone is significant.

But, they really should be able to do automatic withdrawals, etc.

It doesn't seem fair that they should charge you the interest, considering their policy went into effect on May 11th (you mailed the check before then?) Also, was it announced on the property tax bill?

I paid taxes as usual, with personal check, sent in via mail. several weeks later, I received a letter stating "to the resident of JC, as of may 11, 2006, JC will no longer accpet personal check. only cash, cashiers check or money order. We are returning your check beacuse of this reason".
Now they want to charge me 3 weeks interest on that tax.

I'm confused. Were you late? I've always paid my tax by personal check and by mail and never had a problem, including the May 1st payment. But I'll think twice about doing it by mail again.

Same here - I bring a personal check down every quarter - they give me a receipt. The check is usually cashed in 3-4 days. It is the most efficient process in JC.

I wish they would have electronic transfer. There are quarters when my JC taxes is the only check I write.

I wonder if your bank screwed up or if your taxes are so high that the bank distributes the money over a few days.

I always pay in person at the office with personal check. no id required, just payment stub.

Never heard this before. But then I always pay my tax at a local bank that accepts JC tax payments but I always use personal check.

If there's a logical reasoning behind such a policy I'd love to hear it otherwise that's just pathetic. Especially considering the technology available to move and verify funds and to accept payments. In so many ways this city is firmly anchored in the past!

I wish to share my frustaration with all of you. The city of JC is a waste. I recently paid my property tax, as usual. I paid with a personal check. Now I get a letter in the mail, that they will only accpet cashier check, cash or certified check. For over 1 year, i have been paying by personal check. Now, they want interest on the past due amount. I asked if you can pay online or automatic withdrwal via phone. The answer, NO!
WTF??
This city is a joke!!