Sonoma County is urging property owners to use secure payment methods for their second installment of secured property taxes as check fraud involving mailed payments continues to rise.
The Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office said the payment deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 10.
County officials are encouraging taxpayers to avoid mailing checks when possible and instead pay online, by phone, or in person.
Free e-check payments are available online and by phone, while credit and debit card payments carry a 2.34% transaction fee. A monthly payment plan is also available.
In-person payments can be made at 585 Fiscal Drive, Suite 100, in Santa Rosa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The county also warned that U.S. Postal Service postmarks are now based on when mail reaches a regional processing facility rather than when it is dropped off locally, which could delay postmark dates and result in late payments.