The check won’t be in the mail for some Snohomish County taxpayers who paid property taxes based on erroneous bills sent last month.
County officials say they don’t plan to calculate or send forms for any refunds worth $1 or less.
It doesn’t make sense for the county or taxpayers to spend postage on such small refunds, chief deputy treasurer Debi Putnam said.
“You have 78 cents in postage to get less than a dollar back,” she said.
Taxpayers who do the math themselves and want their $1 or less refunded must write officials, she said.
Taxpayers were mistakenly overbilled last month after the county assessor’s office calculated this year’s taxes but left out 23 personal property accounts worth $152 million.
The error spread more than $1.6 million in taxes amongst all of the county’s 260,000 property owners.
County Assessor Cindy Portmann said property owners were overbilled from $1.88 to $33, based on the average $350,000 Snohomish County property.
Word of the mistake reached the treasurer’s office just days after incorrect tax bills were mailed.
Corrected Snohomish County property tax bills are heading out in the mail this week for people who have not paid their property taxes. The first half of taxes are due April 30.
People are urged to wait to pay until they receive their corrected bills, Putnam said. Doing so saves the county and taxpayers the cost of writing refund checks and mailing them.
At least 1,700 people – and counting – already have paid their property taxes based on erroneous bills sent last month. The question of a refund affects only those who have already paid their tax bill.
Refunds will be automatically sent to those who overpaid by $5.01 or more, Putnam said.
Those in between – due refunds of $1.01 to $5 – will be sent a letter asking whether they want their refund.
“The majority of people aren’t going to be affected because the majority of people haven’t paid anything,” Putnam said.
Putnam said she has a letter from a woman demanding that her 28 cents be returned.
Others told the county to keep the change.
“A number of people left voice mails saying, ‘I don’t want a refund. Keep the money,’” Putnam said.
County officials urge property owners to wait to pay their taxes until corrected bills arrive in the mail. The first half of property taxes is due April 30.
If you’ve already paid, the size of the potential refund will determine whether you hear from the county treasurer’s office.
Refunds of $1 or less: You will not hear from officials. If you want a refund, you must write to the Treasurer’s Office, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Mail Stop 501, Everett, WA 98201, or e-mail treasurer@co.snohomish.wa.us.
Refunds from $1.01 to $5: The treasurer’s office will send a form asking if you want a refund. You must sign and mail it back to receive a refund.
Refunds greater than $5: A check will automatically be sent as soon as possible.
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