easy tax payment!
Dec. 28th, 2009 07:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
indigo_rose99I am paying my property taxes.
In the envelope was a message. "Automatic Bank Draft Program" This sounds good. The message said, "Our bank draft program will eliminate standing in line, travel, writing checks, and postage. We do all the work for you!!"
It told me to go to a (non-working) web address and "download an ACH agreement." With Google's help, I found the correct page and downloaded the form. It asks me to print out this pdf form, fill out my bank's information, fill out my personal information, and return the form along with an unsigned, voided check to the county tax office. I can mail it or go in person. A fax number was faintly visible, but was clearly not the suggested choice. My favorite part is the "This agreement must be received in our office EACH YEAR no later than the first of the selected month below to ensure timely processing. . ."
Wait, I think I understand now. Every year from now on I can mail a check in a stamped envelope
-OR-
Every year I can print out a pdf, fill out the pdf with my bank information, take a blank check, mail the blank check and the filled out form in a stamped envelope.
If this hassle is something I had to do one year to save myself any trouble in ongoing years, I would understand. But their "This new option is designed to save you time and money." is actually MORE trouble each year than simply writing a check! And it consumes a check and a stamp anyway!
I thought, perhaps it allows people with multiple property in the same county to simply do this once. ...Reading over the form, nope. Each property requires a separate printed pdf. Given this level of competence, if I tried to put two pdfs in the same envelope with one blank check, think they would both go through the system correctly?
Our government in action.
In the envelope was a message. "Automatic Bank Draft Program" This sounds good. The message said, "Our bank draft program will eliminate standing in line, travel, writing checks, and postage. We do all the work for you!!"
It told me to go to a (non-working) web address and "download an ACH agreement." With Google's help, I found the correct page and downloaded the form. It asks me to print out this pdf form, fill out my bank's information, fill out my personal information, and return the form along with an unsigned, voided check to the county tax office. I can mail it or go in person. A fax number was faintly visible, but was clearly not the suggested choice. My favorite part is the "This agreement must be received in our office EACH YEAR no later than the first of the selected month below to ensure timely processing. . ."
Wait, I think I understand now. Every year from now on I can mail a check in a stamped envelope
-OR-
Every year I can print out a pdf, fill out the pdf with my bank information, take a blank check, mail the blank check and the filled out form in a stamped envelope.
If this hassle is something I had to do one year to save myself any trouble in ongoing years, I would understand. But their "This new option is designed to save you time and money." is actually MORE trouble each year than simply writing a check! And it consumes a check and a stamp anyway!
I thought, perhaps it allows people with multiple property in the same county to simply do this once. ...Reading over the form, nope. Each property requires a separate printed pdf. Given this level of competence, if I tried to put two pdfs in the same envelope with one blank check, think they would both go through the system correctly?
Our government in action.
