Chattooga County property owners have twelve days left to pay their property taxes to avoid facing late penalties.  Property taxes are due on Thursday, December 20th.  According to the tax commissioner's web site:

After the due date, for real estate and business personal property, interest at the rate of 1% per month is charged after December 20th. Additionally, a penalty of 10% will apply to all taxes that are not paid within 90 days of the deadline; however, homesteaded property with a tax liability of less than $500 does not receive the 90-day penalty. If the property taxes remain unpaid, the Tax Commissioner has the right and responsibility to levy on the property for non-payment.

Tax Commissioner Kathy Brown said that selling the property for non-payment is considered to be  a last resort for tax collection and that she prefers to use other collection methods.