WOODSTOCK, Ill. – Besides a newly redesigned and very transparent property tax bill, taxpayers now have more – and more convenient – ways to pay.
With property tax bills being mailed out Friday, May 10, Treasurer Donna Kurtz unveiled the VIP Taxpayer program, which will allow property owners to register to schedule electronic payments, get reminders of due dates, and sign up to receive next year’s bill electronically. Taxpayers still can pay by electronic check (E-Check) without paying any processing fees as a VIP Taxpayer, or as a one-time online payer.
To sign up as a VIP Taxpayer or simply make a one-time payment, you can scan the QR code on the upper right of your property tax bill or visit treasurer.mchenrycountyil.gov. Installments for this year’s property taxes are due June 10 and Sept. 10.
“As a VIP Taxpayer, it’s easier and more convenient than ever to pay your property taxes, and getting started is as easy as scanning a QR code,” Kurtz said. “If you wish to pay by E-Check, or credit card, or by mail or in person, you can still do that – this just gives you even more options.”
McHenry County’s new tax bill offers property owners a transparent accounting of where their tax dollars are going. The list of taxing bodies on the bill are listed in descending order based on the increase in taxes from the prior year, as well as contact information for each taxing body for questions. A pie chart next to the list shows the percentage of the bill that is applied to each unit of local government serving that property owner.
On the back of the bill, taxpayers also will find the phone numbers of every township assessor, as well as contact information for the County Assessments Office, which handles property tax exemptions and assessment appeals.
“These new bills increase accountability as well as transparency, and the Treasurer’s Office couldn’t have done this without the help of all 120 units of local government in McHenry County who came together to help us make tax bills easier to understand,” Kurtz said.
To pay your property taxes electronically via E-Check, visit treasurer.mchenrycountyil.gov and click on “Look Up/Pay Your Tax Bill.” Once you look up your tax bill, you can click on “Pay Taxes” to begin the process. To pay by phone, call 877-220-2247 and follow the prompts. When you pay via E-Check, write down the payment confirmation code you will receive so you have this for your records.
If you wish to pay by mail, send the payment (please do not send cash) along with the payment coupon to: McHenry County Collector, PO Box 8730, Carol Stream, IL 60197-8730. If paying by check, please write your property parcel number on it.
You can also pay in person by visiting the Treasurer’s Office at 2100 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and pay at the window or through the drive-thru lanes. The Treasurer’s Office accepts check, cash, and debit/credit card payments. The Treasurer’s Office will also be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Saturday prior to each installment due dates.
In addition, the Treasurer’s Office has two 24-hour drop boxes, one walk-up and one drive-up. Dropoff payments can be a check or money order (no cash), made payable to the McHenry County Collector and placed in an envelope with the payment coupon.
Finally, many local banks accept walk-in property tax payments. A list of these participating McHenry banks, and the communities where they are located can be found at treasurer.mchenrycountyil.gov. Keep in mind that credit and debit card payments are not accepted at these local banks – you must bring your tax bill or a copy of it, and there may be other procedures.
