Real and Personal Property Tax Payment User Terms and Conditions
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Welcome to the Baltimore County Government web site Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System. By using Baltimore County's online tool to pay and search for property taxes, you acknowledge that you have read and accept the General User Terms and Conditions for the Baltimore County web site and the following terms and conditions specific to this application.
A major part of the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System involves the dissemination of information regarding real property attributes and ownership. This information is used for a wide variety of governmental and commercial purposes. With some limited exceptions, the County is required by law to provide this data to anyone who requests it. We realize that some people are uncomfortable having information about their property available, but public availability of this information is necessary to assure that all property is uniformly valued at market value.
We are equally aware that some users are unhappy that we do not provide owner name searches and other more detailed information through our web site. Within the framework of the law, we have attempted to strike a balance between reasonably protecting personal information and releasing information that needs to be disclosed to promote public accountability.
FUNCTION OF THE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM
The Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System is designed as a payment mechanism and online research tool for real and personal property tax owed to Baltimore County Government. This is a service created for the convenience of the public.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Online payments can be made in the form of electronic check, credit card or debit card (MasterCard, Discover and Visa).
ELECTRONIC CHECK
If paying by electronic check, you will pay a convenience fee of 95 cents. This convenience fee covers costs associated with the transaction. The convenience fee will display as a separate charge on your statement and is not refundable by Baltimore County.
A returned check charge of $35 will be assessed on each bill paid with an electronic check that is returned by the bank or financial institution on which it is drawn. This fee will be assessed for checks returned for insufficient funds or checks with an incorrect account or routing number entered.
If you pay by electronic check, your canceled check is your receipt. You can also provide your email address to receive an email confirmation of your payment.
CREDIT CARD
If paying by credit or debit card, you will pay a convenience fee of 2.39 percent of the amount of your charge. This convenience fee covers costs associated with the transaction.
LATE FEES AND PENALTIES
Completion of a payment transaction is contingent upon both the authorization of payment by the applicable credit or debit card company or bank, and receipt of your payment by Baltimore County. In the event your payment is not processed, for any reason, your liability shall remain outstanding and unpaid. Late fees and applicable penalties will continue to accrue. We will credit your payment on the date we receive the electronic payment from your credit or debit card company or bank.
USE AND STORAGE OF INFORMATION
To process your payment, we will accept certain information from you. Your use of the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System constitutes your consent to our use of the information as described in this notice. Initially, we will collect information regarding your Parcel ID number or street address for Real Property tax inquiries or your tax account number for Personal Property tax inquiries.
To complete the transaction if paying by credit or debit card, you will be required to provide the card holder’s name; address and daytime telephone number; and credit or debit card identification, number, CVV2 code and expiration date. To complete the transaction if paying by electronic check, you will be required to provide the bank account holder’s name, address and daytime telephone number; and bank name, routing number and account number. We also will ask for your email address, but you are not required to supply this information in order to complete the transaction.
No Baltimore County agency or employee will have access to the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System electronic payment information other than the employees who maintain the administrative interface for Real and Personal Property Tax. The payment information will not be disclosed to other entities or third parties, except as required by law or to process Real or Personal Property Tax payment. It will not be used for any purpose other than to pay Real and Personal Property taxes.
Baltimore County is a governmental unit that is subject to the disclosure requirements of the Public Information Act. You should be aware that information regarding your taxes may be subject to disclosure under the Act. Financial information (such as card type and number) is not public information. It should not be subject to disclosure under the Act.
In addition, Maryland law mandates that governmental units not create personal records unless the need for the information is clearly established and that personal records shall be relevant to the purposes for which they are collected, be accurate and current to the extent practicable, and not be obtained by fraudulent means.
SECURITY
Baltimore County uses Secure Socket Layering (SSL) to encrypt personal credit information, including credit or debit card number, and bank routing and account number, before it travels over the internet. SSL technology is the industry standard for securing online transactions.
DISCLAIMERS
The Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System is operated by the County on an 'as is', 'as available' basis. We make no representations or warranties of any kind. We disclaim any and all representations and warranties with respect to this site and its contents, whether express, implied, or statutory.
The County, its officials, agents, employees, successors and assigns shall not be responsible or liable for any and all damages or losses of any kind or nature suffered or incurred by any and all property owners, their respective personal representatives, agents, heirs, successors, and assigns, as applicable, as a result of, in connection with, or arising out of the use of or reliance upon the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System and information provided herein.
NO LIABILITY FOR COUNTY
All property owners and their respective personal representatives, heirs, successors, assigns, and/or agents, as applicable, hereby evidence their agreement to assume full responsibility for and assume all risks associated with the use of or reliance upon the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System and understand and agree that under no circumstances shall the County, its officials, agents, employees, successors and assigns be liable for any losses or damages arising out of or in connection with the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System.
This is a comprehensive release from liability that applies to any and all losses and damages of any kind (including but not limited to general, special, consequential, incidental, exemplary, direct, indirect, or otherwise, including without limitation, loss of data, income or profits), whether in contract, negligence or other tortious action, even if the County or an authorized agent, employee, or vendor has been advised of or should have known of the possibility of such damages. If you are dissatisfied with the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System or any content thereof, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using it. You acknowledge by your use of the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System that your use is at your sole risk.
CHOICE OF LAW AND CHOICE OF VENUE
By using the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System, you agree and acknowledge that your access to and use of the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System is subject to these terms and conditions, as well as to all applicable laws, as governed and interpreted pursuant to the laws of Maryland. For any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Real and Personal Property Tax Payment System, you agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Maryland.
INTEGRATION, MODIFICATION AND SEVERABILITY OF TERMS
Except as otherwise supplemented by and stated in the County web site General Users Terms and Conditions, this agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and Baltimore County with respect to this site. We reserve the right to make changes to our site, policies, or Terms and Conditions of Service at any time, without prior notice. If any of these terms and conditions shall be deemed invalid, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that term and condition shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining terms and conditions.