COUNTY TO EXPOSE DELINQUENT MAUI TAXPAYERS

The county plans to expose delinquent taxpayers in an effort to make up for $8.6 million in unpaid real property taxes.  Beginning in October, the County will publish a list of the top 25 delinquent accounts on its website, along with the names and accounts of all taxpayers with delinquent accounts that have existed for three years.

Photo Courtesy County of Maui Property Tax Division

The program is being managed by the Department of Finance, Real Property Tax Division.  The website posting will include all known owners of record and any delinquent balances, and will be updated on a weekly basis.

All property owners with an account that has been delinquent for at least three years will be receiving notification of the impending website posting via certified mail. To avoid appearing on the website, or to be removed from the website, taxpayers must satisfy the liability in arrears. Beginning October 1, 2009, the list of delinquent parcels may be viewed at www.mauipropertytax.com.

The posting of the nearly 400 delinquent accounts on the website may also assist owners who may not realize they are owners of delinquent properties.

“The most common examples for accounts becoming delinquent are properties with multiple – in some cases, dozens – of owners where communication among all of the owners is the main problem,” said Scott Teruya, Real Property Tax Division Administrator. Teruya also noted that properties may have recently paid off their mortgage, and as a result taxes are no longer being paid by the mortgage company– they must then be paid by the owner or owners.

Real property taxpayers are reminded that tax payments for the first half of 2009 are due by 4 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009, and that payment must be accompanied by the payment coupon and a check payable to the County Maui for the correct amount. Unless hand delivered, the postal service cancellation mark will determine the effective date of payment; it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient postage is applied and that payment is postmarked on or before the due date.

All taxes remaining unpaid after the due date will be considered delinquent and subject to a ten percent penalty. Interest at the rate of one percent for each month or fraction thereof also will be applied to all delinquent taxes and penalties. According to county officials, by law, real property on which a lien for taxes exists may be sold through foreclosure, if taxes owing have existed for three years.

For more information, contact the Real Property Tax division, delinquent tax collection section, at (808) 270-7697 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/finance.

(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui)