Amid Hansen Pardon Scandal, Property Owners Urged To Pay Tax Bills

Even as many Virgin Islanders are still reeling from the recent announcement released by Government House that Governor de Jongh had pardoned Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen of past convictions of the failure to file taxes, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor has been urging property owners to avoid paying late fees on their property tax bills by taking advantage of discounts offered by the Division of Real Property Tax. To some, talk of paying taxes of any kind is adding insult to injury.

Bills issued by the Tax Assessor’s Office have already begun going out to resident property owners for the year beginning January 1, 2013. The bills will start arriving in the upcoming week, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor made known through a statement.

Those who pay their bills after December 6 will be considered delinquent and subject to late fees, the statement said. However, those who pay on time–considered any date before October 6, will be given a five percent discount.

Property owners who believe their property was badly assessed, may file an appeal with the Board of Tax Review by December 23.

Property tax payments can be made in person or through the U.S. Postal Service; however, property owners choosing the former option are not required to have the bill in hand. If payments are being sent through postal mail, a self-addressed stamped envelope must be enclosed with the payment in order to receive proof of payment.

Payments by check, cash and money order may be made at the window, as well as credit card, ATM and debit cards using only Visa or MasterCard. Property owners making payments through the mail are advised not to send cash.

Payments for 2013 property taxes and previous years may be paid at the Tax Collector’s Offices at the following locations:

St. John: Islandia Building

St. Thomas: Builders Emporium

St. Croix: 1105 King Street (Government House, Christiansted)
1131 King Street, Suite #101 (Christiansted)
4008 Est. Diamond (Dept. of Finance, Sunny Isles)
Lagoon Street Commercial Building No. 1 (Frederiksted)

Questions regarding delinquencies should be addressed to the Tax Collector’s Office at 776-8505 on St. Thomas, 776-6737 on St. John, 773-1105 in Christiansted or 772-0120 at the Frederiksted office.