Lookup and pay your Real Residential or commercial property tax costs and find answers to your questions about real residential or commercial property taxes.
As genuine residential or commercial property tax payments continue to stream in, the County's Department of Finance and its third-party supplier are working diligently to process all payments in a timely style. For residential or commercial property owners who sent by mail in their payment to get the early bird discount, however who's payment has not yet been withdrawn from their bank account, Finance ensures it will honor this discount rate on all payments gotten by Friday, August 15th.
If you have any extra questions and/or issues concerning your real residential or commercial property tax payment, please contact Finance's Tax Customer support Office at 410-313-2062 or email [email protected] for additional assistance. We thank you for your patience.
About
Real Residential or commercial property Taxes are billed by Howard County on a yearly basis on July 1 although lots of taxpayers have the option of semi-annual payments. Many kinds of Residential or commercial property Tax Credits are provided to help taxpayers. Failure to pay taxes can lead to Tax Sale.
Enroll Now to Receive Email and Text Notifications for Your County Tax Bill
Escrow Check
MuniciPay Convenience Fees
MuniciPay charges a convenience charge of $1.00 for e-check deals and 2.4% ($ 2.00 minimum) for all other debit and charge card transactions for payments of Real Residential or commercial property Taxes. These are immediately included during your deal.
Due to bank and charge card processing times, please allow 3-5 business days for your transaction to procedure.
Real Residential Or Commercial Property Fee Disclaimer
Payment by credit card does not give Howard County Government access to your charge card number. That information is retained strictly by MuniciPay. MuniciPay maximizes web security in the handling of your charge card information.
Real Residential Or Commercial Property Tax Information Guide & Questions
Tax Rate Schedule
The real residential or commercial property tax rate, which is set each year by the County Council, is applied to the examined worth of the residential or commercial property. Real residential or commercial property tax is imposed annually on all taxable land and enhancements.
Tax Rate Schedule Effective July 1, 2025
Types of Taxes Billed
General County Real Residential Or Commercial Property Tax:
This tax is imposed on all residential or commercial property in the County and funds, in part, such fundamental services as education, public safety, public works, and neighborhood services.
State Real Residential Or Commercial Property Tax:
This tax is imposed by the State of Maryland, but collected by Howard County and is used for the payment of principal and interest on State bonds.
Fire Tax:
This tax is gathered countywide and supports all fire and emergency situation reaction operations.
Trash Fees:
The yearly fee for the collection and disposal of domestic garbage is $391 for those families getting garbage, recycling and backyard services, $376 for those families getting garbage and recycling services just and $55 for those homes getting recycling service only.
Ad Valorem Charges:
An advertisement valorem charge is imposed on real residential or commercial property located within the Metropolitan District. Ad valorem charges are primarily utilized to money the cost of new building and/or replacement of the water and sewer system's facilities and may be utilized for operation costs also.
Front Foot Charge:
All owners of residential or commercial properties located on a street, roadway, lane, street or right-of-way in which a water or drain primary exists, pay an annual front foot advantage assessment charge.
State Bay Restoration Fee:
The Maryland State Government enacted the State Bay Restoration Fund in 2004. Howard County is required to expense users of personal septic systems a charge of $15.00 per quarter for a single property house. For additional info please check out the Maryland Department of the Environment web website at www.mde.state.md.us.
Watershed Protection Fee:
This cost supplies funding for County storm water jobs mandated by the federal government to treat invulnerable surface areas. For additional information see CleanWaterHoward.com.
When Taxes Are Due
All taxpayers residing in their primary residence may pay their genuine residential or commercial property tax expenses on a semi-annual basis, unless they opt out of the semi-annual schedule by making a yearly payment, on or before September 30th. Taxpayers who are principal residents will receive tax costs which will reflect both payment choices. Taxpayers who escrow their tax payments might choose to pay yearly, however need to alert their lending institutions by May 1st of their intent to pay yearly.
Starting July 1, 2012, genuine residential or commercial property tax on little business commercial residential or commercial property can be paid on a semi-annual basis. To receive semi-annual payments, the overall of county taxes, state taxes and special taxing district taxes should not exceed $100,000.
- Annual costs and the first installments of semiannual expenses are due on or before September 30th and become delinquent on October 1st.
- Howard County enables a 1/2 percent discount rate on the General County Real Residential or commercial property Tax paid in the month of July.
- The second semiannual installation is due on or before December 31st and ends up being overdue January 1st.
- Delinquent taxes are subject to interest and penalty at the rate of 1.5% each month on all County taxes and costs and 1.0% on State taxes.
- Interest and charges are applied to the amount imposed web of any credits.
Taxpayers who remain delinquent as of March 1st of each year will receive a final legal notification. Additional penalties are enforced as of April1st of each year and payments made as of this date moving forward need to be in the form of money, certified check, or credit card. Delinquent taxes might likewise result in the sale of a residential or commercial property tax lien through public Tax Sale.
How to Pay Taxes
Taxpayers have several choices for paying their residential or commercial property taxes.
- Taxpayers can set up to have their taxes paid by their mortgage company from an escrow account.
- Taxpayers ought to mail their check or money order made payable to Director of Finance together with their payment discount coupon, if available, to Howard County Maryland, PO Box 37237, Baltimore, MD 21297-3237.
- If taxpayers do not have a payment discount coupon, they can pay by check or money order made payable to Director of Finance sent by mail to Howard County Maryland, PO Box 3370, Ellicott City MD 21041-3370.
- For a cost taxpayers can pay by charge card (VISA, Master Card, American Express, or Discover) or e-check on line.
- Taxpayers can pay face to face at the Department of Finance, Cashier's Office on the 1st Floor, 3430 Courthouse Dr, Ellicott City, MD. The office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM other than for Howard County Government holidays. Payments face to face can be made by money, check, or cash order. Map & Directions
- Taxpayers can likewise use the drop box located to the left of the doors at 3430 Courthouse Drive to deposit their payments. Payment left in the drop box ought to remain in the type of check or money order. Drop box payments will be processed efficient the next County organization day.
Convenience Fee
Payments made by charge card or e-check are evaluated a benefit fee. This charge is levied by the Charge card processor and can not be waived by Howard County.
Payments made through the website are charged with a benefit charge that varies with the quantity of the charges. See payment site for precise benefit charge for your payment quantity.
Mortgage Information
All taxpayers in Howard County get an original tax expense and are accountable for ensuring that their taxes are paid on time. Howard County also provides a complete listing of taxes due on all residential or commercial properties in the County to mortgage business who request it. These mortgage companies will match the residential or commercial properties for which they hold escrow accounts and pay to the County. These payments are made reliable July 31st (1st installment semi-annual and annual) and December 31st (second installation semi-annual), however may not be posted until the start of the following months, based upon their high volume. Taxpayers will not be charged interest in these cases.
Residential or commercial property owners may wish to call their lending institution to guarantee that the lender obtained the tax expense and has actually included that costs in the payment process. If the lender does not have the appropriate billing info, you must forward a copy of your costs to your lender.
Refinancing
If you are refinancing your mortgage around the due dates for residential or commercial property taxes, you should ensure that the taxes are not paid by both loan providers or by the loan provider and the title business at settlement. Be sure to alert the old mortgage company well in advance of settlement that you are closing the escrow account and advise them not to make payment if payment will be made at settlement.
State Assessments
The State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) figures out the taxable assessment of your real residential or commercial property. The taxable assessment equals the complete cash worth, as figured out by the Assessor's Office. It is necessary to validate any evaluation notices received from SDAT for accuracy. Assessments may be appealed.
Online evaluation information is readily available at SDAT.
Residential or commercial property owners needing more accurate information about an evaluation, or the appeal process, must call SDAT's regional workplace at 410-480-7940 or email [email protected], SDAT's main line at 410-767-1184 or email [email protected], or visit SDAT's website at https://dat.maryland.gov.
Change of Address
In Maryland, SDAT is the main central file of all addresses relative to State and County taxes. If you want to change your address, you must notify SDAT. We have supplied a Change of Address Form for your benefit.
