Taxpayers have six options for paying their property taxes.

Checks should be payable to Director of Finance.

Bills are mailed in early July. Likewise, second installment reminders are mailed in early December. If you do not receive a bill by mid-month of the mailing date contact Taxpayer Services at 410-313-2062 to obtain a duplicate bill.

Information regarding the amount of taxes due can be obtained on our Tax Information Line 410-313-2062. In the summer of 2004, Howard County began posting this information on-line for your convenience.

The taxable year is from July 1 to June 30th. Property tax bills mailed in July are for the coming year.

Effective July 1, 2000, a semi-annual tax payment schedule became mandatory for all owner-occupied residential property owners. Under the semi-annual payment schedule, the first installment consisting of one-half of County, State, Fire, Ad Valorem levies and the full amount of Front Foot, State Bay Restoration and Trash Fees is due by September 30th. The second installment consisting of the other half of the levies is due December 31st. Taxpayers may opt to pay annually by making the full tax payment by September 30th. While the State of Maryland allows the County to impose a service charge for semi-annual payments, Howard County does not impose a service charge.

The County and mortgage lenders will assume that taxes are being paid semi-annually. To have your lender make annual payments, they must be notified prior to May 1 of the upcoming tax year. The County does not need to be notified, the County will accept both semi-annual and annual payments.

Ad valorem charges help to pay for the operation of the water and sewer system and help cover debts for the system.

An annual fee of $175 per household is charged to offset the cost of collection and disposal of residential trash. Low income homeowners may qualify for a credit of up to $100 against the Trash Fee. Call the Community Action Council at 410-313-6440 for more information. The deadline for filing is September 1 of each tax year.

Homeowner’s Credits are displayed on the tax bills. The amount of the credit will appear on the bill and will be subtracted from the tax amount due. If the credit is issued after the taxes are paid, a refund will automatically be made to the taxpayer. If you are anticipating a tax credit, but it has not been granted as of the due date of your taxes, pay the taxes in full to avoid interest and penalties.

All other credits will be listed on the tax bill, but will not be shown as a subtraction from the amount due. Instead, the amounts of the credits will be included in the computation of each tax. For example, an assessment of $100,000 would normally result in a County Tax of $1,014. But with a County Homestead Credit of $25, the County Tax would be listed at $989.

Annual bills and the first installments of semiannual bills are due on or before September 30th and become delinquent on October 1st. The second semiannual installment is due on or before December 31st and becomes delinquent January 1st. Delinquent taxes are subject to interest and penalty at the rate of 1.5% per month on all County taxes and fees and 1.0% on State taxes. Interest and penalties are applied to the net amount of the bill after any credits are applied.