Tax inquiry, payment website launched

Union County Treasurer Darren Bailey has launched a property tax inquiry website. 

Bailey said in a news release that the site fits with his office's "mission for greater transparency for the citizens of Union County. It allows citizens faster and better access to their own property tax information."

"The new site will also be of great benefit to local business involved in the real estate purchasing process," Bailey said. 

"Realtors, banks, mortgage companies, appraisers, closing agents, and others can now access most, if not all of the information they will need to complete their business.

The treasurer explained that visitors to the site will first see a group of search fields allowing users to locate a parcel by whatever information they may have: name, address or even property number. 

Once a parcel is identified and selected, users will find descriptive information about the parcel, tax amounts, current billing and payment status, assessment information, a breakdown of taxing bodies taxing that parcel, and payment history dating back to 2010.

“Having a site like this has been a goal for some time, and I’m thrilled that it’s become a reality for Union County," Bailey said.

"Getting information about property taxes and parcels shouldn’t be difficult, and should be much more user friendly. It no longer requires a drive to the courthouse,” Bailey said.

“Tammy Robinson, the supervisor of assessments, and her team deserve special recognition,” Bailey added. 

“They were the driving force to move to new property tax software a year earlier than originally planned. That move has been great, providing greater efficiency. As a benefit, we were able to develop this site.”

The treasurer’s office has also engaged Value Payment Systems as a credit card, debit card, and e-check processing service. 

In the very near future, taxpayers will be able to use the same website above to make payments online in the future.

“The intention is to continue to add citizen-friendly services to this and other county websites,” Bailey said.  “It’s beginning to look more and more like 2016 around here. This is just another success story of meeting the new standard in the treasurer’s office and throughout the Union County government.”

Interested users can find the new website at http://unionil.devnetwedge.com/, and find links on the Union County government website and Union County treasurer’s website.