FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2019
DeFuniak Springs --Walton County residents with April vehicle and vessel registration dates will receive renewal notices that contain incorrect information. The Tax Collector’s office is notifying affected customers and has taken steps to correct the renewal notices. The error was a result of a software programming mistake by the mail vendor utilized by the Tax Collector’s office to print and mail renewal notices.
Correct notices will be mailed out by Friday March 1, 2019 and the affected Walton County residents will receive correct notices no later than early next week, at no expense to taxpayers.
Upon discovering the error, the Tax Collector’s office initiated a thorough and ongoing investigation. While the root of the error has been addressed, the office continues to improve the process to ensure no such errors happen in the future.
The additional information included incorrect driver license numbers, vehicle/vessel VIN numbers, make and model of vehicle/vessel, and tag numbers. No birthdates or social security numbers were included in the incorrect notices.
“First and foremost, I sincerely apologize to those customers affected by this error, and for any concern or frustration it has caused. It has always been my goal to serve the citizens of Walton County with the utmost care, professionalism, and with exemplary customer service. I greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to investigate and work to rectify this situation. Please be assured that safety measures and updated protocols have been implemented to better improve the process to ensure this never happens again,” said Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper.
Contact: Lisa Henderson, Chief Deputy Tax Collector – (850) 892-4127 - [email protected]