Oxford is on its way to allowing residents to pay taxes with credit cards.
The Board of Selectmen Wednesday unanimously approved Official Payments, based in Richmond, Va., to handle the credit card payments.
There’s no word yet on when the town will have the new payment system up and running.
There is no charge to the town for the service. The company will makes it profit by charging taxpayers a convenience free of 2.65 percent per transaction.
Allowing credit card payments could improve the tax collection rate, said Tax Collector Jackie Orner.
Property owners will be able to use their credit cards at the tax collector’s office, at first. Eventually they’ll be able to pay over the computer.
“It will make it convenient for people to pay,” Orner said.
When money is tight for residents, a credit card provides another payment option, Orner said.
Credit card numbers will not be kept on file at the tax office. .
The Selectmen welcomed the technological advance in bill paying.
“Anything that will make it easier for people to pay their taxes,” Selectman David McKane said.
