Just because you pay your property taxes through escrow doesn't mean you're done checking. The deadline for Gwinnett County's 2026 property taxes is November 15, and this year that date falls on a Sunday.

This article summarizes the official guidance from the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office, which was confirmed in early November. Let's start with the most confusing parts.

Why do I need to check if my mortgage company is paying? Because the responsibility for payment ultimately lies with the homeowner.

The county does not send a bill to the mortgage company. It only keeps the tax information open, and it states on its official site that it does not contact the escrow officer separately.

The bill will be issued to the registered owner as of January 1. If it is not paid in full, a lien will be placed on the house and the owner.

So, it's not surprising if a bill arrives at your home. The problem arises when people assume the company has taken care of it.

Checking is not difficult. You can find your home and payment status on the View/Pay Your Taxes page of the Tax Commissioner's website.

If it still shows as unpaid, don't rush to pay it directly. First, call your mortgage company and ask just two questions.

Are they planning to pay the Gwinnett property tax, and when will they send it? If you don't get answers to these two questions, I won't hang up.

There are specific homes you need to pay extra attention to. First, homes where the lender has recently changed. The county advises contacting them directly to confirm in this case.

Second, homes purchased this year. Even if taxes were prorated at closing, you need to check if the full amount has been paid.

Third, homes sold after January 1. The tax record remains in the name of the owner as of January 1, even if the house is sold.

If you've sold your home, you need to be more vigilant. If a delinquent lien arises, you must submit documents within 90 days from the deadline to remove it from your name.

The recorded deed and the closing documents stating that the buyer assumes the tax burden. If you find these now, it will save you trouble later.

Fourth, homes where the loan has been fully paid off this year. If the escrow has closed as well, you will need to pay this bill directly. You can assume that the mortgage company will no longer take care of it for you.

If you don't have escrow, check the dates again. The office is only open on weekdays, so payments at the counter won't be accepted on Sunday, the 15th. If you were planning to go to the counter, you need to go by 5 PM on Friday the 13th at the latest.

I couldn't confirm from the official guidance whether they will accept payments until Monday the 16th. I wouldn't rely on that and would finish it by Friday the 13th.

The simplest method is online e-check. There are no fees. If you need to handle it urgently over the weekend, this is the most practical option.

Credit cards incur a fee of 2.30% with a minimum of $1. Debit cards cost $3.50, and only Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

If the bill is $5,000, the credit card fee alone would be $115. Unless the card benefits are significant, I would recommend using e-check instead.

There is no time left for mailing. A USPS postmark dated by the deadline is accepted, but the office recommends sending it at least 7 days before the due date based on business days.

A date stamped by the post office after the deadline will not be recognized. If you must send it by mail, it's safest to get a postmark at the post office counter.

There are only five drop boxes at the tagged offices. You can only drop off checks or money orders; cash is only accepted at the counter.

What happens if you're late? The interest is 0.81% per month, and even if you don't complete a full month, it is calculated as a full month. The annual rate is 9.75%, which is the interest rate announced by the Georgia Department of Revenue for 2026.

If you assume you couldn't pay the full $5,000, the interest for one month would be $40.50. After that, it accrues again on the 2nd of each month.

If 120 days pass, a 5% penalty will be added to the remaining amount. After that, an additional 5% will be added every 120 days, up to a maximum of 20%.

If you still don't pay, it will go into a lien called Fi. Fa. A 30-day notice will be sent before issuance, and once registered, it remains effective for 7 years.

If you're short on cash, consider making a partial payment first. Partial payments are accepted, but interest and penalties will continue to accrue based on the remaining amount. There is no formal installment payment plan.

The process is simple. Check your payment status today. If it's unpaid, ask your mortgage company.

If the company says they haven't paid, inform them first to avoid double payment, then pay directly. If both sides send payments, it becomes more complicated to get a refund.

If you have questions, you can ask at 770-822-8800 or [email protected]. Make sure to confirm the Sunday deadline processing at the same time.

Escrow is not automatic; it's delegated. If you've entrusted it, you should check at least once. It only takes 5 minutes, so I recommend looking into it this week.