Lynn finance chief: Pay taxes online

LYNN ? It costs less than a first-class postage stamp to pay city tax bills online through a newly revised city website, said Chief Financial Officer Peter Caron.The site is easily reached by clicking on the words “secure online payment” on the city of Lynn website and then following the pop-up instructions.?The benefits include a site that is user-friendly: It allows you to set up automatic payment and it takes American Express and has a pay-by-phone option,” Caron said.Online payment by electronic check through a checking or savings account as well as credit cards is permitted.By encouraging taxpayers to pay online instead of mailing in tax bills or dropping them off in person at City Hall, the city saves about $20,000 a year in bill-handling costs, said Caron. He stressed that traditional payment options ? in person and by mail ? are still available to taxpayers.City officials launched the online payment option in 2013 and nearly 1,000 taxpayers signed up to pay their bills electronically. The online payment was reorganized this year with a company called Invoice Cloud handling online billing.?They collect service fees from the taxpayer, but that 40 cents fee is less than the cost of a first-class stamp,” Caron said.Real estate, personal property and excise taxes can all be paid online. The city website describes Invoice Cloud as “an industry leader” providing “simple, secure web-based electronic invoice presentment and payment solutions that reduce cost, speed payments and help the environment.”The online service also allows taxpayers to view bill accounts and receive immediately electronic mail payment confirmation.