The end of March means property tax deadlines pass across Upper Cumberland communities, residents who missed payments are now facing added penalties.
Algood City Recorder Anna Walker said the March 30 deadline marked the cutoff for paying 2024 property taxes locally before accounts were turned over for collection. Delinquent property taxes will receive a 0.5 percent penalty with a 1 percent interest fee. Walker said once delinquent property taxes are turned over to the local clerk and master, the financial consequences increase significantly.
“The fees and the interest will double essentially because they will pay not only the interest fees with the city of Algood, but then they will also start accruing interest fees with the clerk and master as well,” Walker said.
Walker said the most important thing for delinquent taxpayers to understand is the urgency of paying as soon as possible. She said if taxes remain unpaid for an extended period, the issue goes through Chancery Court, and can escalate to legal action involving the property itself.
“When you get so many years behind on your property taxes, they can come after your property to get those paid,” Walker said.
Walker said residents can no longer pay their 2024 property taxes at City Hall and will have to pay through the clerk and master’s office.
“Call the clerk and master, give them your address, or if you have your parcel ID, they can look it up,” Walker said. “And honestly, it’s actually public record. You can go online to the Tennessee Prop Tax and look it up yourself and see how much is owed on there. But I would still call the clerk and master because I’m not sure if those fees were added to the website, and that information as well.”
Walker said about $6,000 in unpaid property taxes was turned over this year. She said that figure is typical for a small municipality like Algood.