Last year, Spalding County residents were able to have instant access to their property records via the Internet for the first time. Later this summer, residents will be able to access a new online service that will provide information about their taxes and even allow them to pay property taxes online.

“The implementation of this online service has been in the works for several months,” said Spalding County Tax Commissioner Sylvia W. Hollums in a press release. She had wanted to set up an online tax service for some time, but it took awhile to to make the necessary arrangements and find a company to run the system. “We hope that it will provide easy access for anyone seeking information about taxes in Spalding County.”

In addition to tax information, the Web site will include answers to frequently-asked questions about “every aspect of the Tax Commissioner’s Office” and links to other services in Spalding County, including the online ability to renew motor vehicle tags and transfer title that has been available for years. As long as the person has received their annual notice for their tag, they can renew them at anytime.

Sturgis Web Services is the company that operates the system for Spalding County. Coweta, Newton, Baldwin, Henry and Emanuel Counties also use their software for tax purposes.

Hollums hopes that the new program will enable real estate agents, mortgage companies and attorneys who would ordinarily have to call the Tax Commissioner’s office or come in person for information to verify the information on their own. This would free up tax officials to spend more time collecting delinquent taxes.

No private information will be available on the Web-site - although property taxes are public record. Other materials, such as social security numbers are deemed private. The site, www.spaldingtax.com, should be operating by mid-July if not sooner.