SMARRA
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The Union County Treasurer is taking steps to help taxpayers who want to take advantages of changes in the newly passed tax legislation.
Treasurer Andrew Smarra said his office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
“We want to be responsive to the taxpayers of Union County,” Smarra said.
Deputy Auditor Bill Buchanan said there has been “enormous interest” from property owners wanting to pay their taxes early.
“In all the years I have been here, I have never seen it like this,” Buchanan said.
Smarra said it is important to be “accessible to the public.”
“We understand that for a lot of people, the only time they can come in is on Saturday,” Smarra said.
He said the office will also be open during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Smarra explained the rush to pay early is the result of changes made to the federal tax code. Currently, taxpayers can deduct the full amount for paid state or local taxes off their federal income tax. The newly passed legislation limits the deduction taxpayers can claim on their 2018 income taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently stressed that not every prepaid bill is eligible to be deducted this year.
Smarra said that since the taxes due in 2018 were actually for 2017, prepayments made now will be deductible on income taxes next year.
But, he said, it really only benefits taxpayers who itemize and pay more than $10,000 in state and local taxes because the new law caps deductions there for next year. The number of those taxpayers locally is limited, the treasurer said.
“We really don’t have that type of population, but it is growing, especially in the southern part of the county,” Smarra said.
He said that while there are some taxpayers who would benefit in the northern part of the county, “the largest concentration have a Dublin address.”
Buchanan said many local taxpayers have become “very knowledgeable” about their property taxes as well as the changes in the federal code.
While prepayment may help some taxpayers, Buchanan said, “the only benefit for the county is that it would be in the county bank account and of course we get interest on that.”
Buchanan said that while tax bills will not be mailed for a couple weeks, the assessment is available. He said it will be easier to help people if they have their parcel number.
“The taxes are all in the system and we can pull them up when they come in,” Buchanan said.
He said taxes can also be paid online at www.co.union.oh.us/treasurer, and there’s an option that allows property owners to pay online or by mail. Those who pay online or by mail this year will be able to deduct from their taxes next year.
For those who choose not to prepay, the first half assessed property taxes are due at the treasurer’s office by Feb. 14, with the second half due July 18.
Smarra and the IRS remind taxpayers that a number of provisions remain available this week that could affect 2017 tax bills.
“Time remains to make charitable donations,” according to the IRS. “The deadline to make contributions for individual retirement accounts — which can be used by some taxpayers on 2017 tax returns — is the April 2018 tax deadline.”
IRS.gov has more information on these and other provisions to help taxpayers prepare for the upcoming filing season.