Officials in Lackawanna County want to make sure you’re ready when your tax bill arrives this year.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — The lobby of the Single Tax Office in Scranton is quiet this Monday morning, but that’s going to change, according to tax collector Cathy Wechsler, when 2026 tax bills are sent out in the coming weeks.
“It brings in the money to keep the county, the city, the school district moving forward,” said Wechsler.
In her second term as tax collector, Wechsler says thousands of real estate tax bills are heading out for Lackawanna County, the city of Scranton, and the Scranton School District.
“We sent out just under 100,000 tax bills,” said Wechsler.
A few changes this year have Wechsler wanting to inform people before their bills get to mailboxes.
Residents in Lackawanna County will now have the option to pay their tax bill in full or in four payments.
If you live in Scranton, that means two bills will be heading your way, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be paying more money; it’s just because the county and city payment options now take up two sheets of paper.
“The county bills will be going out by the end of this week, and the city bills should be going out the following week. So by mid-February, everybody will have both of their bills,” explained Wechsler.
Also, this year, the mileage for land and improvements, which was normally shown as two separate amounts, will be going out as one.
With the county reassessment going into effect, Wechsler says anyone with questions about that should contact the assessor’s office, not the tax collector. “We don’t have the ability to look, do anything with the assessed values. They need to contact the assessor’s office.”
A discount period will run until April 15. Penalties will start after July 1, so remember to pay your taxes.