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The economic impact of Covid-19 has had such far reaching implications that even real estate taxes have started to have some relief provided. So far only 16 states have either extended the filing deadline or waived interest or fees and penalties for a specified amount of time. Other states are coming on board and some already have payment plan policies in place that residents can apply for.
Here are the 16 states, but be warned that even though most of them have a statewide Covid-19 relief policy, some have left it up to counties to administer, so there are a few places with different policies depending where you live.
- Alaska: The deadline for the first filing of the year has been pushed back a month, to July 15th. The second filing is September 15th.
- California: This one varies by county, but many counties will allow residents to waive the penalty due to Covid-related late payments.
- Connecticut: This one varies by locality, but several options included deadline extensions and low-interest rates on delinquent balances.
- Florida: This state pays taxes early in the year, usually March 31, but this year they gave a two week extension to April 15th. Since the financial impact of Covid will extend into next year it is worth keeping an eye on to see if they provide relief for next year’s tax payments.
- Illinois: This one varies by county; several of them have provided extensions.
- Indiana: There was a 60 day waiver on penalties for the first deadline and the second deadline, November 10th, may have this option as well.
- Iowa: Penalties were waived for the first filing deadline. The second filing deadline, September 1st, may have penalties waived as well.
- Minnesota: This one varies by county.
- Mississippi: Penalties and interest have been waived for outstanding balances and new assessments.
- New Jersey: An extension was already granted for the May 1 filing date and additional ones may be added. Localities have the option to provide extensions or other relief.
- Ohio: A number of counties have granted extensions so check with your local office.
- Pennsylvania: Residents have until the end of the year to pay without penalty.
- South Carolina: This one may have options available by different locality if you qualify.
- Washington: This one also varies by county, but a number of them have multiple month extensions for filing.
- West Virginia: Fees and penalties were waived until May 1, 2020 for the first filing deadline. They may announce a second moratorium for the second filing deadline, which is September 1st.
- Wisconsin: There is a moratorium on collecting penalties until October 1st.
There is such a wide variety in housing markets on the list, from one of the highest-priced (Connecticut) to one of the lowest (Mississippi). There is a chart of how individual states have responded if you want to compare different policies.
No state has offered to reduce property taxes, but a number of them are making it easier for people who are in financial hardship by reducing the interest that would normally be applied to missed payments. Mississippi, for example, has suspended the accrual of interest on outstanding liabilities as well as new assessments. Indiana, on the other hand, has waived penalties for 60 days. Also, even if your state isn’t listed here they may have payment plans already in place that you can apply for to help mitigate the financial burden.