Assuming no mortgage of course. Have half a dozen bills due the end of the month. Although they aren’t due until the end of the year, they give a discount for paying early that is greater than the money would be earning in the bank even with the current high interest rates.
Do you,
1. Pay in person at the tax office
2. Mail a check
3. Use your bank’s bill pay
4. Use the tax collectors website and pay with an electronic check for free
5. Use the tax collectors website and pay with an electronic check for a nominal fee
6. Use the tax collectors website and pay with a credit card for free
7. Use the tax collectors website and pay with a credit card for a significant fee
In the past and for a few years after buying the properties and before #3-7 were an option, I would do #1 as it felt as I was doing an annual ritual. After that got old and driving sometimes an hour each way to the tax collectors office seemed stupid, I switched to #2 if I didn’t wait until the last few days.
Now, I prefer #6. With my 2% cash back card I get $50 back on the one and only bill that allows for that form of payment. I don’t mind #7 so much as their fee is 2.5% but that nets to 0.5% with my card, and when I figure gas and inconvenience to pay in person, is about a wash.
Second choice is #4 and #5, the latter fee being just $1.49. Not much more than the cost of a stamp and envelope, such that I haven’t used #2 in a long time.
Third choice is #3 if there is still a week before it’s due.
Do you,
1. Pay in person at the tax office
2. Mail a check
3. Use your bank’s bill pay
4. Use the tax collectors website and pay with an electronic check for free
5. Use the tax collectors website and pay with an electronic check for a nominal fee
6. Use the tax collectors website and pay with a credit card for free
7. Use the tax collectors website and pay with a credit card for a significant fee
In the past and for a few years after buying the properties and before #3-7 were an option, I would do #1 as it felt as I was doing an annual ritual. After that got old and driving sometimes an hour each way to the tax collectors office seemed stupid, I switched to #2 if I didn’t wait until the last few days.
Now, I prefer #6. With my 2% cash back card I get $50 back on the one and only bill that allows for that form of payment. I don’t mind #7 so much as their fee is 2.5% but that nets to 0.5% with my card, and when I figure gas and inconvenience to pay in person, is about a wash.
Second choice is #4 and #5, the latter fee being just $1.49. Not much more than the cost of a stamp and envelope, such that I haven’t used #2 in a long time.
Third choice is #3 if there is still a week before it’s due.