A big change is coming to Allen County's monthly property tax payment plan that will give the taxpayer more control over how and when they make payments.

Allen County Treasurer Susan Orth today announced the new wrinkle in the plan which makes it possible for property owners in the county to have their property taxes automatically deducted from their checking or savings account each month.

Property taxes are due in two installments, one in the spring and one in the fall.  The Treasurer's Office will send a statement each spring showing your tax-related information.

"Since we began the program in September 2007, taxpayers have had to call our office with changes and they've been made manually," Orth said.  "With our new software program, the taxpayer will now be able to sign up for the plan online as well as make changes, updates, stop payment and pull a report of their payments at anytime.  You only need to subtract the property tax monthly payment amount from your account each month. The withdrawal from your account will appear on your bank statement."

Payment plans are set up in such a way to help prevent accruement of penalties and the decided amount of the payment will be deducted from a savings or checking account on the day each month that the taxpayer designates.

The monthly payment plan is especially beneficial

• If your mortgage is paid off and you no longer have an escrow account;
• If you are on a fixed income and find it hard to come up with funds to make large payments twice a year;
• If you have delinquent taxes; or
• If you own a business and would like to budget your tax payments over the year.  

To sign up for the program, go to the County Treasurer's website and click on Monthly Automatic Debit Plan.  If you do not have internet access and would like to sign up for this plan, call the Treasurer's Office at 260-449-7693 and ask that an application be sent to you.  You will be signed up and information will be mailed to you.

If you have any questions about the Monthly Tax Debit Payment Option, call the Allen County Treasurer's Office at 260-449-7693.