By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - Using the Internet is the latest option Hawkins County property owners have for paying their county property taxes and beating the Feb. 28 deadline.          
     "There are actually two ways to pay taxes online but there is an additional processing fee for both," Trustee Patsy Charles Courtney explained.  "Even with the extra fee some taxpayers, especially from other areas, may find it more convenient to just go online."
    Courtney said taxes can be paid by accessing the official Hawkins County Web site, www.hawkinscountytn.gov, or through a site operated by the state Trustee's Association, www.tennesseetrustee.com.
    "The reason we ended up with two ways of paying is because we had looked at setting up a system but the cost was going to be too high so we worked with the Trustee's Association.  We did find another company to work with so we were able to set up a payment system directly through the county's Web site, too."
    While the Trustee's Association site requires an individual to have all the information from their tax notice and then enter the information the county site already has access to that information.
    If an individual is on the Hawkins County Web site they then click on a "Pay Property Taxes" link under "Online Resources."
    In addition to providing the ability for a property owner to pay taxes, the site also allows individuals to examine tax information for any parcel in the county.
    "You can check to see what the appraisal and assessment values are as well as taxes owed or paid.  You can find that information for any property, not just yours," Courtney said, noting some people may not understand that the tax information is considered a public record open to inspection.  
    "Even without the computer information if someone came in here and asked to see tax information we would have to provide it," she added.
    The Trustee's Office also accepts credit card and debit card transactions from individuals paying in person, which also involves a $2 convenience fee and a processing fee of 2.25 percent of the transaction.   The site accepts MasterCard, Visa, debit cards or echeck.
    In addition to accepting credit and debit cards, as well as cash and checks, the office allows individuals to make partial payments throughout the tax season.
    "A lot of people are finding it easier to come in and pay a little bit each month rather than try to do it all at one time.  I've even been paying may taxes that way," the Trustee noted.  "We know paying taxes can be hard on people, especially when money is tight.  We are just trying to find ways to help people out."