If you reside within a taxing district (ie - Borough of Lewistown, Mifflin County, Mifflin County School District) you are liable to pay this tax.
In Mifflin County, there are 2 per capita bills sent per year. The first bill (which comes from the County/Borough) is mailed in March. The second bill (which comes from Mifflin County School District) is mailed in August.
Exonerations from the Per Capita tax vary by district. In the Borough of Lewistown, the following individuals may be exonerated from paying the property tax: students, active duty military, deceased individuals, individuals residing in a nursing home, individuals who were double assessed (received 2 bills), and individuals with income below a certain threshold.
Individuals with a severe physical or mental disability can contact the Assessment office (717-248-5783) to find out if and how you can be removed from the tax rolls.
If you moved out of Mifflin County prior to the issuance of the tax bill, please return the bill to my office with documentation of your new residence (example: copy of driver’s license, utility bill, tax notice from new collector, etc.) for the appropriate time period.
You can come and pay your bill without your copy - I have extras! You may also contact me for a duplicate tax bill. Failure to receive your tax bill does not excuse or delay the payment due date or avoid penalty, interest or charge for such a delay. This is according to PA State Law regarding municipal tax collection (P.L. 1050, No. 394). In order for me to send you a duplicate tax bill you will need to either email me or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope. I will make a copy of your tax bill free of charge if you come to my office.
I will mail a receipt only if you include a self addressed stamped envelope with your payment. If you leave payment when I'm not at my office during lunch or after hours I will save the receipt for you to pick up at a later time. If you leave payment when I'm not at my office during scheduled hours I will mail your receipt since the inconvenience was my fault.
During the School tax cycle, you have the option to pay in 3 installments. You must pay the first installment by the deadline to be eligible for the installment payment plan. If you do not make the first installment payment by the due date, you no longer have this option. The deadline for the first installment is around the 25th of August, depending where the weekend falls. Subsequently, the 2nd installment is due around September 25th and the 3rd installment is due around October 25th, also depending on how the weekend falls. If you miss the deadline for the 2nd and 3rd installments the penalty amount will be due by December 31st of the current year.
Yes. However, please keep in mind that right around due dates are times of high volume calls/customers/mail in this office and it may take some extra time to receipt your bill and cash your check. I HIGHLY recommend mailing your payment in advance. There are often mistakes made with payments received at the last minute -and when this happens at the end of the year and I have to return payment it may result in your taxes becoming delinquent.
For whatever reason, your address wasn’t changed at the Assessment Office; you can call them to make this change at 717-248-5783. You can also contact me or your new tax collector to make this change for you.
-The Per Capita Tax that I collect is simply for living in the Borough of Lewistown/Mifflin County/Mifflin County School District. This is not based on employment or income.
-The Occupation Tax deducted from your paycheck is paid to the county/municipality in which you work.
-The Local Income Tax deducted from your paycheck is paid to the school district – returns are filed with (and tax money is collected by) Keystone.
No, I cannot accept partial or installment payments for the County/Borough real estate taxes.
No, if you qualify for exoneration as a student or military you will need to bring me every bill you receive. This is because you will stay on the tax rolls until your permanent address is no longer in Mifflin County.
Yes. You can combine payments on one check. Please make sure that the bills you are paying are included with payment. If bills aren’t included with payment please clearly indicate which bills you intend to pay (preferably by bill number – for example bill # 01-000123). Contact me by phone or email (preferably) if you have questions about which amount is currently due.
Not typically, but it depends on the circumstances. If I make this exception I wait until your check clears the bank before issuing a refund. Please make sure your payment is mailed in plenty of time because checks that have incorrect amounts (or are missing signatures, etc) are returned. If your check is returned for these reasons and I will be receiving the new check after the deadline I do not honor that deadline. (For example: I receive your check 2 days before the discount ends and there is no phone number attached. I would return the check and if it's not postmarked by the discount date, the face amount is due). I would suggest including a phone number to expedite this process if it would happen to you.
NO. This is a common misconception. You have to contact me or call the Assessment office at 717-248-6571 to change your address.
There are times during the year when the volume of customers paying in person and sending payments by mail is extremely high. During this time, it may take some extra time for emails and up to a month for phone calls. For the most part, these times surround deadlines. These are my busiest times during the year: The first 2 weeks in March, mid-April through mid-May, the entire month of August, mid-September through mid-October, and the last 2 weeks in December.
No, you would need to contact the Assessment Office at 717-248-6571. You may also contact me or your new tax collector.
This basically depends on what time of year you purchased the home. After settlement, the new deed is filed at the courthouse and the Assessment Office updates these records. Sometimes the owner has not changed on the deed before the new tax bills are mailed. These are usually returned to me. If you should have received a bill and did not, please call or stop in the office. Several real estate bills are returned to me by the post office for this reason every year.
For whatever reason, sometimes maiden names aren't always changed automatically to married names on your tax bill. This change occurs through the Assessment Office in the Mifflin County Courthouse, 2nd floor. The phone number there is 717-248-5783.
There are times during the year when the volume of customers paying in person and sending payments by mail is extremely high. During this time, it may take some extra time. For the most part, these times surround deadlines. These are my busiest times during the year: The first 2 weeks in March, mid-April through mid-May, the entire month of August, mid-September through mid-October, and the last 2 weeks in December.
No. I only accept cash, checks and money orders.
If not paid by 12/31 of the current year the real estate bills becomes delinquent. At that time, they are collected by the Tax Claim Bureau. This office is located in the Mifflin County Courthouse on the 1st floor. The phone number is 717-248-6571.
If not paid by 12/31 of the current year the per capita bills become delinquent. At that time, they are collected by Keystone Collections Group. This office is not local, but can be reached by calling 1-866-539-1100. The website is www.KeystoneCollects.com.
You can either mail your bill or slide it under my office door. Please make sure the payment amount is correct and DO NOT leave cash. If you leave payment at my office the only time I will mail your receipt is if I'm not here during my scheduled hours. I save all receipts that are left under my door, so you can pick it up at a later date.
No, not at this time.
You can contact the Mifflin County Assessment office for instructions on how to apply. 717-248-5783.
There are times when my office isn't open consistently. There are a few options for payment if that should happen. There are envelopes on the counter inside my office. Place check or money order payment in one and leave them on my counter with your name and phone number. Please do not leave cash. I save these receipts for anyone who would like to pick up their receipt at a later time. You could also mail payment to: Tax Collector, PO Box 66, Lewistown, PA 17044 and include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for a receipt.
I have attached a copy of the ordinance which allows me to collect fees. There is a $10.00 fee for duplicate bills and lien certifications. There is a $40.00 fee for checks returned to me for any reason.