Summary

Individual residential and commercial taxpayers who pay property taxes themselves, rather than through their mortgage lender, can delay payment until June 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Banks and other financial institutions that pay property taxes on behalf of their lending customers will still need to meet the original April 30 deadline.

Story

Due to the financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, King County Executive Dow Constantine has extended the first-half 2020 property tax deadline to June 1. This executive order only applies to individual residential and commercial taxpayers who pay property taxes themselves, rather than through their mortgage lender. Banks and other financial institutions that pay property taxes on behalf of their lending customers will still need to meet the original April 30 deadline.

"Many homeowners are facing extraordinary financial challenges during this public health emergency," said Executive Constantine. "My order provides short-term relief for individual taxpayers who own residential or commercial property, while allowing the state, county, cities and special purpose districts to continue meeting community needs as we all pull together to get through this unprecedented crisis."

The extension applies to both real property taxes (buildings and structures) and personal property taxes (equipment used in business). For those who can do so, King County is encouraging taxpayers to pay by the regular April 30 deadline or as soon thereafter as possible. The county will not add interest charges to the tax bill for individual taxpayers who pay the first half amount of their 2020 property taxes by June 1.

"I support the Executive's order, as this is a very challenging time for many of our residents to pay their property tax bills, especially for those who have lost their jobs, and for small business owners who have had to close down - hopefully only temporarily," said King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, chair of the Budget Committee. "We also have to be responsive to our cities and towns and special districts - such as schools, fire districts, hospitals and libraries - who depend on the property tax revenue. Postponing the due date until June 1 seems a fair balance for all when we consider our daunting crisis."

Payments can be made:

• Online at kingcounty.gov/PropertyTax using a credit or debit card or by eCheck (a processing fee applies to these options)
• By mail using a check or money order addressed to Treasury Operations, King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104 (cash should not be sent through the mail)
• Via check or money order using the specially marked secure dropbox at the King County Administration Building in Seattle (cash payments may not be deposited in the dropbox)

Because of the ongoing pandemic, in-person payments at the King County Treasury office and at Community Service Centers are still suspended until further notice.

This move is consistent with extensions from the Pierce and Snohomish county treasurers, who are issuing similar orders in their jurisdictions. The deadline will not be extended past June 1, as many cities, counties, school districts, fire districts, hospital districts, and other special purpose districts rely on the year's first installment of property tax revenue to make June debt service payments.

Taxpayers with questions about their property tax bill or payment options can contact King County Treasury at propertytax.customerservice@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-2890.

MEDIA CONTACT

Cameron Satterfield, Department of Executive Services, 206-263-9758