Columbia county tax collector
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You may call us at 386-758-1077 or you can send us a message.
Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office
PLAN YOUR PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
Installments & Payment Options
Compare advance quarterly installments with partial payments on a current tax bill.
Choose the right payment option
These options serve different purposes. The advance installment plan is not a payment plan for already delinquent taxes.
Pay your annual bill in full
If you are not enrolled in the quarterly plan, you can pay the annual bill early for a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. There is no discount in March. Regular unpaid taxes generally become delinquent April 1.
Look up or pay your Columbia County tax bill
Not sure which amount to pay? See a sample property tax bill and learn how to read it.
What to do if your check or e-check is returned
Columbia County’s published property tax payment instructions list a $20 returned-check charge for both paper checks and e-checks. If your bank returns the payment, call the Tax Department at 386-758-1080 before paying again. Ask for the current balance, which payment methods are accepted, and whether the original payment will be presented again.
Have your property tax account number, payment date and confirmation number or notice ready. If your notice directs you to Columbia County’s check recovery provider, contact Envision Payment Solutions at 877-290-5460.
Check that the replacement payment posts to the correct account and keep your receipt. If a discount or payment deadline is close, ask which amount is due now.
Quarterly installment schedule
Estimates start with the prior year’s taxes. Later installments adjust for the actual tax amount. Pay the amounts shown on your notices.
| Due date | Amount basis | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| June 30 | One-quarter of estimated taxes. | 6% |
| September 30 | One-quarter of estimated taxes. | 4.5% |
| December 31 | One-quarter of estimated taxes, plus half of the adjustment to actual taxes. | 3% |
| March 31 Following year | One-quarter of estimated taxes, plus the remaining half of the adjustment. | None |
Discounts apply to the applicable installment amount. Follow your notice and contact the office about weekends, holidays or an account-specific question.
Applying and staying enrolled
Submit an application for each tax notice by April 30. For example, to pay 2027 taxes in installments, apply by April 30, 2027. The first payment is due June 30, 2027. Continued participants generally do not need to apply every year. If participation stops, a new application is required for a later year.
If a payment is missed
The first installment is due June 30. Late first payments must be accepted through July 31, with no first-installment discount. If the first payment is not made, the account is removed from the plan and an annual tax notice is issued.
Missed September or December amounts are added to the next installment without their discounts. Remaining unpaid installments become delinquent April 1. Contact the office for an updated amount rather than reusing an earlier notice.
Partial payments on a current bill
Columbia County allows partial payments from November 1 through March 31. Call 386-758-1080 or visit the office to sign up and confirm the payment instructions.
- Partial payments do not qualify for early-payment discounts.
- Confirm applicable processing charges and local requirements before paying.
- Keep track of your payments and remaining balance.
- Pay the current bill’s full remaining balance by March 31.
Check your balance before March 31 and pay the remaining amount in full. Any balance left unpaid becomes delinquent on the applicable delinquency date. Unpaid real estate taxes may lead to a tax certificate sale; unpaid tangible personal property taxes may lead to a tax warrant.
Understand delinquent real estate taxes and tax certificates →
Homestead tax deferral
Florida homeowners entitled to a homestead exemption may qualify to postpone some or all of their property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments. Eligibility and the amount you can defer depend on factors including household income, age, and existing mortgages or liens. Deferred amounts accrue interest and become a lien on the property.
File Form DR-570, Application for Homestead Tax Deferral (PDF), with the Columbia County Tax Collector by March 31 of the year after the assessment. The application must be filed each year. Call the Tax Department at 386-758-1080 for help.
Common questions
Can I put past-due taxes into the quarterly installment plan?
The installment plan is an advance payment program for the applicable tax year. For an existing delinquent balance, call the Tax Department for the current amount and available payment instructions.
What if my mortgage company pays my taxes?
Contact your mortgage servicer before changing how the account is paid. Confirm whether the lender will continue to pay from escrow and coordinate with the Tax Department to avoid duplicate payments.
What if I do not receive my first installment notice?
The state application instructs participants to contact the Tax Collector if the first notice has not arrived by June 15. Call 386-758-1080 to check your account.
How do I know which tax year to put on my application?
Use the year for which you are electing to prepay taxes and confirm the April 30 application deadline. Call the office before submitting if you are unsure which year or parcel applies.
Apply for quarterly installments
Use the office’s installment application below, or download the state form. Contact the Tax Department about the applicable year, eligibility or delivery instructions.
Download application DR-534 (PDF) →
Information reviewed November 8, 2026. Confirm your account’s payment amounts and instructions with the Tax Department.
Services
Kids Tag Art
Kids Tag Art is a fundraising project that inspires elementary grade art students and raises money for the school's art program. A special thanks goes out to our Platinum Sponsor- Nutrien and our Gold Sponsors- Edward Jones, Baya Pharmacy, Walmart Transportation, First Federal Bank, & LKQ!
