Chief Deputy TC
Beach Comber
Credit Card Fees
It is important to note that the Walton County Tax Collector's office receives no portion of the fees for credit card processing. The current regulations require that goverment agencies use a third party processor in order to accept this form of payment. For every purchase the credit card companies get over 1 percent from the merchant. The remaining percentage goes to the third party vendor (Point and Pay, Inc is our vendor). The 2.95 percent fee is among the lowest available. Government has basically two options: 1. Use Taxpayer dollars from the operating funds to pay the fees, to allow customers to have no fee, or 2. charge the fee to only those who wish to pay in this manner. We chose option two as the majority of taxpayers still choose to pay by mail. We are hopeful that competition among the credit card processors will result in lower fees in the future. The most practical payment, in my opinion, is the e-check payment which is only $1.50 regardless of the payment amount. This payment method is extremely popular amount our taxpayers. We strive to offer the most payment options available as a service to our customers. To learn more please visit the Tax Collector's website at www.waltontaxcollector.com
:angry: I don't mind paying for the taxes but the fees to do so by credit card are highway robbery.
I thought, as I am sure others have also, "Why don't I put them on my credit card, earn some points/miles?" Well Rhonda Skippers office charges a fee to use a credit card.
2.95%
So to pay one of my tax bills I would be charged $37 just to use a card.
Isn't this a bit excessive?
It is important to note that the Walton County Tax Collector's office receives no portion of the fees for credit card processing. The current regulations require that goverment agencies use a third party processor in order to accept this form of payment. For every purchase the credit card companies get over 1 percent from the merchant. The remaining percentage goes to the third party vendor (Point and Pay, Inc is our vendor). The 2.95 percent fee is among the lowest available. Government has basically two options: 1. Use Taxpayer dollars from the operating funds to pay the fees, to allow customers to have no fee, or 2. charge the fee to only those who wish to pay in this manner. We chose option two as the majority of taxpayers still choose to pay by mail. We are hopeful that competition among the credit card processors will result in lower fees in the future. The most practical payment, in my opinion, is the e-check payment which is only $1.50 regardless of the payment amount. This payment method is extremely popular amount our taxpayers. We strive to offer the most payment options available as a service to our customers. To learn more please visit the Tax Collector's website at www.waltontaxcollector.com
