The first installment of Hall County taxpayers’ bills is due today — at the latest.

Officially, the deadline set for paying the first half of property tax bills was Oct. 1. But because the due date fell on a Saturday, Tax Commission Keith Echols has said he will accept payments either postmarked or paid by the end of business today.

Taxpayers who fail to pay half of their bills by today will be charged 1 percent interest per month on half the amount of their total property tax bill.

For the first time this year, Hall County’s taxpayers have the option of paying their county taxes in two installments.

The total bill must be paid by Dec. 1. If not, the bill will gain interest of 1 percent per month until it is paid. If the bill is more than 90 days late, a 10 percent penalty will be added.

Tax bills were mailed in early August to the county’s 84,000 property owners to the tune of $119.8 million. County officials expect to collect at least $115 million of that amount.

Property owners in Hall County have a number of options for paying their property tax bills. Payments can be made online, though a bank processing fee is charged atop the bill.

Payments can also be mailed to PO Box 1579, Gainesville, GA 30503. Bills can also be paid in person at the Tax Commissioner’s Office, located in the Joint Administration Building on Henry Ward Way in downtown Gainesville.

Property owners who have not received a bill should contact the tax commissioner at 770-531-6950.