The mystery of the disappearing tax checks, and how to be sure yours wasn’t lost
A number of readers have responded to our report about the property tax checks that disappeared.
Some of you asked how you can check. Here’s what the county recommends, from assistant tax collector Tom Kennedy:
Taxpayers can verify the status of their tax account at which will take them directly to the tax search screen . There are also links to the property tax search from and . They can also call 954-831-4000 or 311, to reach the county’s call center, call center staff are trained to assist taxpayers with these inquiries and direct them where to send a replacement check if necessary. You might also mention that since the normal March 31 deadline falls on a Saturday, the 2011 taxes will become delinquent on April 3, 2012. Payments sent by mail must be postmarked no later than April 2, 2012, to be considered paid on-time.
And here are some of your comments and experiences, that were emailed to our tips line. More are on the jump page, as well.
Well, Thanks to my accountant preparing my taxes…he came across on the Broward County Property Appraiser website that we had not paid our taxes. Wrong. I always pay in November …thus my check was one of the ones gone missing. I did stop payment as I did not want a check of such a large amount floating around . This is very unprofessional. How were we to know, and what were they going to do about it come March/April?? Charge us because they lost our original check. This is very poor communication and thanks to my accountant for letting us know about this. We are very dissappointed in Broward County. Next year I will send Return Receipt Requested and Certified.
Three emails one man sent the county:
“I checked online again today and also my bank statement online and I see it still shows it isn’t paid-I mailed the check on 11/19, that was 11 days ago, I am starting to be concerned, I mailed it in your envelope and have always paid on time every year, well before the end of November”
“I just checked my bank statement again today, 12/5, and my tax payment still hasn’t cleared-I mailed it on 11/19!!!”
“I just checked my bank statement again this afternoon, 12/13, and my check still hasn’t cleared-I mailed it 11/19, It is coming up on 1 month!!!”
“County response: “I cannot speak for your bank, but your tax account was paid on 12/2 with the November discount. Thank you.”
—-
Good morning
I have a mortgage
My taxes are escrowed
How would I know if the check the bank sent in is one of the missing ones ?
Thanks for the heads up
—–
On Nov. 19, 2011, I mailed a check in total payment of my property taxes, which was never cashed. In December, I called to inquire and was told that a lot of checks had not been processed and not to worry about it.
On Jan. 19, 2012, I called again and was told that they didn’t have a check from me, so I sent an e-check for the total amount of my taxes plus a $15 charge.
I was not a happy camper.
—–
Good Morning:
Very happy to see that someone is finally admitting that our checks were lost. I have called both the Post Office and Treasurer’s office about my payment. The treasurer’s office did say after a couple calls that some of the mail was lost and also said that a registered mail was also lost.
I have inquired at my post office several times and been given a number in Miami to call and report and this was unresponsive. They could care less about my problem. Their answer was if it isn’t certified it’s not their problem. Even then they will not take responsibility.
My check went out on November 29th to get the maximum discount, this mail was taken inside the post office to assure it was postmarked. I checked in December as it had not cleared the bank. I called again in January as it still had not cleared. I was informed by the Tax Office that I can pay but will not get the discount if the check is not found and the post mark is not shown. This payment I made in January to get that discount. My loss was $372.02 and a stop payment. This time I did an E-check from my bank. Only way to pay any bills now. You can certainly not depend on the Post Office.
Thanks for the article in the paper, I have been wondering why nothing was said about this.
—-
My check to the Broward Tax Collector cleared in November…..but I wonder if there is more to the story. This past weekend someone passed two counterfeit checks against my checking account to some national retail stores. In order to do this, the counterfeiter needs to know my bank routing number and account number (and apparently knew the number range of the checks that I’m writing). Since I do most of my banking electronically and write very few checks (approximately 1 per month), there are very few people/organizations that are privy to the details of my checking account. The Broward Tax collector’s office is one of the very few. Is there more to your story???
—-
My mother checked her statement after your article appeared today (2-24-2012) regarding the missing tax checks. She does not have a bank copy of that check and is now quite concerned that she too is a victim of the lost check. She is extremely efficient when it comes to paying her bills and at 90 she is quite concerned. Who do we call to find out if the taxes are current in Ft. Lauderdale.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
—-
