Islip tax bills payable online

A new Web-based system allowing Islip residents to view and pay their property tax bills online has gone live.

The online payment system launched on Monday can be accessed through the town's website, townofislip-ny.gov, and allows residents to pay their tax bills using a credit card or e-check. A $2 fee is assessed for e-checks, and credit card payments will be charged a fee that is 2.49 percent of the payment. The fees are paid to Carle Place-based MuniTrax, which the town has authorized to operate the system at no cost to the town.

Alexis Weik, the town receiver of taxes, said taxes on about half the town's 100,000 parcels are paid through the property owner's mortgage company; the rest pay at the tax receiver's office or through mail.

"We've had quite a demand for it," said Weik, who as deputy receiver began working on the system before she began her term as receiver in December. "We have so many people who are snowbirds and who go away for the holidays. This will help them tremendously."

Taxes are due in Islip twice a year -- Jan. 10 and May 31. Because the January bills have not been issued, the website is not accepting payments now, but Weik urged residents to go online and register for the system, which will begin taking payments Dec. 1.

The town board in February approved an agreement authorizing MuniTrax to operate the system. James McGee, director of services, said MuniTrax processes more than $200 million in payments annually and has similar online tax collection agreements with Brookhaven, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay. It began offering the tax service to municipalities in 2004.