Taxpayers can now pay their property taxes via the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office website — www.cpso.com — using a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card. Taxpayers may also view and print their bills from the website.

“We are always looking for ways to make it more convenient for the taxpayers to pay their taxes,” Sheriff Tony Mancuso said. “If you choose to pay online, there will be no lines to stand in, and you will be able to pay your taxes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Those who don’t want to pay their taxes online may pay them in person 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the sheriff’s tax office in Suite 100 of the Magnolia Life Building, 1011 Lakeshore Drive. They can also pay 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the sheriff’s west Calcasieu Law Enforcement Center, 1525 Cypress St. in Sulphur.

Cash, checks, money orders, cashier’s checks and credit cards are accepted at the Lake Charles location; the Sulphur location does not accept credit cards.

Taxpayers may also mail their payments to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Tax Division, P.O. Box 1450, Lake Charles, LA 70602.

The Calcasieu Parish Tax Collector’s Office will have a representative to collect the 2013 property taxes 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Dec. 3 — Westlake City Hall, 1001 Mulberry St.

Dec. 4 — DeQuincy Law Enforcement Center, 618 E. Center St.

Dec. 5 — Vinton Law Enforcement Center, 1302 Center St.

For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office Tax Division at 491-3680. For information on assessment, address changes and homestead exemption, call the Calcasieu Parish Tax Assessor’s Office at 721-3000.

The deadline to pay 2013 tax notices without interest or penalty is Dec. 31. Payments received after Dec. 31 will be charged 1 percent interest per month and will be subject to additional costs mandated by state law.

(mgnonline.com)