With the end of the year fast approaching, residents of Escambia County are getting close to the deadline to pay for their property taxes.

With the annual deadline approaching, Escambia County Tax Collector Joy Wiggins said notices already mailed to residents should be a reminder of the date taxes are due.

“The deadline to pay it without fees or interest is that it needs to be in the office or postmarked by Wed., Dec. 31,” Wiggins said. “As soon after Jan. 1 that I can get them printed, I will be mailing out delinquent bills. Then if they do not pay for the delinquent bills, we will send out certified bills on March 1.

“Then after March, if they do not pay, it will be advertised in the paper in April. If it still does not get paid, in May, it gets sold.”

Wiggins said people have been coming it lately to pay off the tax.

“Collections are about close to what it normally is,” she said. “I looked the other day and it is pretty much like it was last year at this time.”

Wiggins said there are two places Escambia County residents can go to pay their taxes before the deadline.

“They can come to either place,” she said. “They can come to the tax collector’s office at the courthouse in Brewton or they can come to the satellite office in Atmore. Either place is fine. If they are going to mail it, it just needs to be postmarked by Dec. 31.”

The collection period will be one of the last big things Wiggins does in office before her time comes to an end. Tim Pettis will take over for Wiggins, after winning election to the post this past November.

“I just want to thank the people of Escambia County for allowing me to serve them for 12 years,” Wiggins said. “I will leave office in September, but I have enjoyed serving them.”

Taxes may be paid at the Escambia County satellite courthouse, located on U.S. Highway 31 in Atmore, or at the county courthouse on Belleville Avenue in Brewton.