Place your check or money order (do not send cash in the mail) in the return envelope along with the tear-off payment stub from the bill. Affix proper postage and mail. Real Estate and Manufactured Home bills are mailed to taxpayers approximately four weeks before the payment due date.

Important Notice Regarding Mailed Property Tax Payments and Recent Changes to USPS Postmark Policy

Taxpayers who choose to mail their property tax payments should be aware of recent changes to United States Postal Service (USPS) postmark policy that may affect how the timeliness of mailed payments is determined.

Under recently updated current USPS practices, the date printed on a postmark generally reflects when the mailpiece is first processed by USPS sorting equipment—not necessarily the date it was placed in a mailbox or dropped off at a post office. This processing may occur one or more days after drop-off, particularly during periods of high mail volume.

Because Ohio law requires the Treasurer to rely on the USPS postmark date to determine whether a mailed payment is timely, taxpayers mailing payments close to the due date are strongly encouraged to:

• Allow additional mailing time, or
• Ask their local post office about postmark and processing procedures, or
• Request an in-person, hand-stamped postmark at the post office counter, or
• Use an alternative payment method to ensure timely receipt.

All mail received with a U.S. Postal Service postmark dated on or before the due date will be accepted without penalty. Payments postmarked after the due date may be subject to penalties as required by Ohio law.

For additional information on USPS postmark practices, please visit:

• https://www.brookings.edu/articles/when-a-postmark-no-longer-tracks-mailing
• https://www.springfieldhousing.org/news/usps-changes-to-postmark-date-system-taking-effect-december-24-2025

Your canceled check will serve as your receipt. However, if you would like a receipt, return the entire bill with your payment and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. An officially stamped receipt will be mailed back to you.

Payments may be made at the Ross County Treasurer's office in the Ross County Courthouse located at the corner of Paint and Main Streets in downtown Chillicothe. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The office will stay open until 6 p.m. during the final week of real estate tax collections.

Payment may also be made outside of normal business hours by using the Payment Drop Box

Payments made after the due date will be subject to a penalty as required by state law.