E-check vs. Online Banking Payment Video

About the Program

Category: Financial Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC) developed and implemented an echeck vs. online banking payment video in 2014 to educate taxpayers about the difference between the two methods of paying property taxes. More than 30 percent of San Diego County property taxes are paid using the TTC online payment system at sdtreastax.com. Many taxpayers confuse this method of payment with payment via the online banking tool offered by their bank. They thought that if they processed a payment through online banking, the payment would electronically remit to TTC immediately. In fact, a payment made through online banking is manually mailed to TTC as a paper check that is received 5 to 10 business days after the initial transaction. This posed a problem for taxpayers who did not allow 5 to 10 business days for their payment to process before the property tax delinquent date. A 10 percent penalty was applied to payments received late. TTC received numerous calls from angry taxpayers when this occurred. The video explains that e-check payments made through sdtreastax.com are credited as of the date of successful submission. Therefore, taxpayers could avoid paying penalties by properly submitting e-check payments before the property tax delinquent date.