Gordon County residents will now have a new way to pay for their car tags. Beginning in December, drivers will be able to log onto

www.officialpayments.com and pay for their car tags.

“A person can be sitting at home at 8 p.m. on their birthday and renew their tag; it will save them the hassle of a fine, should they be pulled over,” said Scott Clements, Gordon Count Tax Commissioner.

Official Payments, according to Clements, is the only service the state uses. Each month the Georgia Department of Revenue sends out thousands of letters reminding drivers that their tag renewals are soon due. Those letters will now contain information that will allow vehicle owners to renew their tags online using a Renewal Identification Number (RIN) in the upper right hand corner. Tax-payers will be able to enter their information, along with the RIN.

Clements said that along with the cost of the tag, those opting to renew their tags online will have to pay a $7- $8 convenience fee.

“It will definitely help tax payers who pay late. They will avoid a late fee,” Clements said.

Clements also said the county is switching to a new online bill payments provider. The county had previously used a service through Tailored Businesses/ Government Technology Solution but begin-ning in December the county will begin using a service through the Paymentus Corporation. The new service will also allow the county to accept tax payments in house via credit card transactions.

“That was a service we were not able to offer before,” said Clements.

Like Official Payments, Paymentus will charge a convenience fee. Clements believes the fee will be 2.5 percent of the overall fee. The county does not receive any funds from the convenience pay-ment.

While the county won’t receive any further revenue boosts, other than that received from the ac-tual taxes themselves, Clements said the new method of payments are more secure and convenient.

“When paying for a car tag, tax payers won’t need to hand over a lot of information. Everything is on the form that is sent to them,” Clements said.

Clements said there is not a firm date set but that he believes the new service will be available when the new tax bills come out.