Lafourche property tax payments due by Dec. 31

Lafourche property owners, it’s time to pay the tax bill.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, which collects property taxes on behalf of various entities throughout the parish, mailed 36,086 tax notices totaling $94.2 million earlier this month. More than 14,000 property owners are homestead exempt and owe no taxes.

Taxes become delinquent Jan. 1; after which interest will be accrued at a rate of 1 percent per month. Partial payments are not accepted, and because the 31st is on a Saturday, the last day to make in-person payments is Dec. 30.

Payments can be made in person at the LPSO administrative office (200 Canal Blvd., Thibodaux), the South Lafourche Sub-station (102 W. 91st St., Galliano), both of which are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or any Lafourche Parish branch of the following banks: Capital One, Coastal Commerce, Community, First American, Regions, South Lafourche, State Bank & Trust, or Whitney.

Payments can be made via cash, checks, money orders, credit cards or debit cards, but an additional 3 percent will be added to any credit or debit card payments.

Taxes can also be paid by mail or online. Once the feature becomes live, property owners will be able to make payments online through the LPSO website at www.lpso.net.

Unpaid tax bills, on Feb. 15, 2012, will accrue an additional 10 percent collection cost and an additional cost for certified notices of tax sale.

If someone’s property is sold at a tax sale, he or she will be subject to losing the homestead exemption. Property sold at a tax sale may be redeemed up to three years from the date of recordation, and a 5 percent penalty and 1 percent interest charge per month will be levied. Property owners must contact LPSO to redeem property.

For more information about property tax, contact the administrative office at (985) 449-4430 or the South Lafourche Sub-station at (985) 798-2255.

The City of Thibodaux also mailed out 6,340 property tax notices earlier this month. Payments are due by Dec. 31.

The city now accepts payments via Visa, MasterCard, cash, check and money orders. Payments can be made over the phone by calling the Tax and License Office at (985) 446-7221.

Payments may also be made in person at City Hall, 310 W. 2nd St., or the Stark Complex, 1309, Canal Boulevard. There is a night drop box at both locations.

The Tax and License Office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Both the parish and the city emphasized that recent homebuyers are responsible for ensuring that all property taxes are paid, even though the tax is sometimes prorated at the time of the sale. The owner of record at the beginning of the year may receive the notice.