Residents and property owners in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are now able to pay property taxes via the Internet. Borough officials say the system is the first online tax payment service in Alaska made available to area property owners.
The borough is offering the service, started in February, through a partnership with EzGov Inc., an Atlanta-based provider of electronic government software. The company has more than 60 customers in 17 states.
The fee for the service is $4. Property owners can access the online payment service at (www.co.mat-su.ak.us).
Online property tax payment service works by allowing property owners to use an electronic check to make their payment. Using the information from their tax bill, the taxpayer enters the property identification number, payment amount, name and address. They are next prompted to enter their bank routing number and checking account number to create a secure online check for the payment amount that will be debited directly from the owner's bank account and deposited into the borough's account. An instant confirmation of payment is then delivered to the property owner, who can use the confirmation number to track the payment online and print it out to save for recordkeeping purposes.
"We are seeking various ways of improving services to our residents and property owners," Borough Manager John Duffy said in a statement. "Making more effective use of the Internet is just one way the borough can enhance services. We hope to expand this Internet service in the future to also accept payments for permits, bed taxes and fees. In an area larger than the state of West Virginia, effectively using the Internet will reduce the required long travel our residents now need to make in order to accomplish simple tasks."
