Processing a Simple Payment

Last Revised: August 11, 2015

Simple payments are those that pay off either all years and all units of a single account or all units of the current tax year. No partial payments are accepted on this screen, although payments within tolerance (or variance) are possible. Overpayments and escrow payments are also possible. Amounts due for ag rollback receivables are not included.

To post miscellaneous fees (such as for photocopies), see Paying Fees to Non-Taxpayer Accounts. To make an escrow payment, see Processing Escrow Payments.

Note: If you are using a scanner, check with your supervisor for specific instructions that may differ from the ones below.

After opening or re-opening an online payment deposit, the Advanced Payment screen will appear.
Click Simple Payment. The Simple Pay Screen will appear.
If the account has carried over from a previous screen, go to step 4.

If the Account Number field is blank, enter the account number or appraisal district number, then go to step 4.

If you need to enter a different account or appraisal district number, highlight the current number, key in the new number, then go to step 4.

Note: If you don't know your account number, see Locating an Account.

As soon as you press Tab or click a box on the screen, the Certified Owner, Total Due, Payment Amount, and Applying Amount fields will be populated.

Note: The Total Due reflects any discount amount or penalty & interest applicable that month.

If the account has a bankruptcy on it and the client preference BLOCK_BANKRUPTCY_PAYMENT is set to the same legal status as the account (for ex., A for active), a warning message will appear. Click OK; a check is put in the Bankruptcy check box. The Apply button is disabled, preventing the payment from being applied.

If you are paying off only the current year, click the Current Year Only check box to place a check mark there. The total Due will be adjusted automatically.
Select the Payment Type in the drop-down list: Cash, Cashiers Check, Check, Credit, eCheck, EFT, Mixed Payment, or Money Order.
If applicable, enter the check number in the Check No. field.
If an alternate payer is making the payment, enter the Fiduciary No.
If applicable, enter the authorization number for a credit card in the Authorization No. field.

Note: If you do not know the authorization number, you can enter '0' in this field.

Verify that the Payment Amount is correct. Change it if necessary.

Ex. If the total Due is $80, and the taxpayer has a $100 bill, enter the Payment Amount as $100, and the system will automatically put $20 in the Change Due field.

Click Tab.
Click Apply; the transaction is complete and saved.

Note: The payment will be displayed in the Last Payment Processed portion of the screen. This part of the screen always displays the last payment completed in the Simple Payment screen.

If you are not set up to print receipts automatically, click Receipt, which will appear between Apply and Void.

Note: Page numbers will be printed on these receipts.

Click Current Stmt. to print a current statement for the account.
If you have made an error in the payment, you or your supervisor may be able to undo it by clicking the Void button to display the Unpa id window, then placing a check in the Unpaid box next to the amount in error, and clicking Process. For more information, see Voiding a Payment.