Residents can now pay their taxes online

Date: 12/23/2010

Dec. 27, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM -- With the new real estate tax bills going out, the town of Wilbraham will be offering a paperless option for paying tax bills online.

According to Tax Col-lector/Treasurer Thomas Sullivan, effective Dec. 27, a link will be available on the town's Web site -- http://www.wilbraham-ma.gov -- through which residents can make payments on current tax bills.

"Right now, we have an option for paying real estate tax bills where residents can come in and sign up for ACH (Automated Clearing House), which will take the money directly out of your bank account," Sullivan explained. "Now we're offering a service on our Web site that allows them to sign up for ACH themselves."

He added that the Web site also includes an option to pay the bill with a credit card.

ACH payment of tax bills is free of charge, while credit card payments have a processing fee associated with them.

According to the town's Web site, using this program, in addition to being better for the environment because it requires less paper, is beneficial for residents because of the speedy nature of the transaction.

The site states that a resident should not elect to go through his or her bank's online payment method, mostly because the bank's system is not, in fact, paperless as the bank will cut a paper check and send it to the town, which can take seven to 10 days.

The town's new system does not require a paper check and usually takes between three and five business days to process.

Payment can still be made by visiting or mailing checks Town Hall at 240 Springfield Street.

This service is available for current tax bills for fiscal year 2011 only. Residents cannot pay late tax bills via the Internet.

"The number on your tax bill [which is required to pay a bill online] does not show back due interest," Sullivan said.