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Centre County to mail redesigned 2025 real‑estate tax bills; some municipalities keep old format
Summary
Tax Claim & Collections staff showed commissioners a new perforated, multi‑part real‑estate tax bill that will start mailing the week of Feb. 25. The county outlined payment discount, face and penalty periods and listed municipalities that will keep the previous bill format or receive separate municipal and county bills.
Centre County officials said the county will begin mailing a redesigned real‑estate tax bill for the March 1, 2025 billing cycle, with most taxpayers receiving a perforated, multi‑part bill that separates the taxpayer receipt from the tax‑collector copies.
The new format, presented to the Board of Commissioners by Jen (Tax Claim & Collections), will include a top perforated receipt for the taxpayer, a middle “face” section showing payment dates and discount/penalty periods, and a lower portion with parcel and assessment details. The county said bills will be mailed starting the week of the presentation and taxpayers should expect them in the mail early next week.
County staff said the new bill will display payment windows clearly: a 2% discount period from March 1 through April 30; the face amount period from May 1 through June 30; and the 10% penalty period from July 1 through Dec. 31. The bill will list millage rates by taxing authority and payment instructions. Jen advised taxpayers who want a mailed receipt to include a self‑addressed stamped envelope when returning payment to the tax collector so the top perforated receipt can be returned to them.
The presentation noted exceptions and local choices: College Township and State College Borough will continue using their current municipal bill format, while Ferguson Township elected to adopt the county’s new format. Marion, Walker and Taylor townships — where homeowners historically received a single bill — will begin receiving two separate bills: one from the county and one from the municipality. Tax collectors in those places reportedly mailed newsletters to taxpayers explaining the change.
Jen showed sample images of how taxpayers should open the mailer and where to sign and return the receipt portion; she also said the county has an office in State College and that volunteers and local tax collectors remain primary contacts for questions. When asked, Jen confirmed the county portion of the bills would be mailed Friday and that school district bills will still be mailed in the fall.
Why it matters: The redesign changes how some residents receive and retain proof of payment and may cause short‑term confusion in jurisdictions switching formats. County officials urged taxpayers to read the mailing and contact their tax collector with questions.
"This is the new format in Centre County for the 2025 Centre County real estate tax billing," Jen said during the presentation, noting the split payment windows and the perforated receipt that taxpayers should return with payment.
The board did not take a formal vote on the billing format at the meeting; staff indicated the county will proceed with the mailing schedule and that tax collectors have been informed of the changes.
