82% of card payments made through contactless options on day system debuts
“The Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office has launched PaymentExpress as its in-office electronic payment solution, supporting property tax, driver’s license, motor vehicle, and tourist tax payments” at all four of its locations, the office announced on June 11.
“On the first full day of operation,” a news release says, “Sarasota County residents quickly adopted the new contactless payment options available through PaymentExpress.” Of the total, 587 in-person card transactions processed at the Tax Collector’s offices, the release points out, “82.1% were contactless. That included 73.8% tap-to-pay or contactless card payments and 8.3% mobile wallet payments.”
The release further notes, “That early adoption has continued beyond launch.” Since it went live, “ the release says, “77% of in-office payments have been made with tap-to-pay cards or mobile wallets, with tap-to-pay accounting for the vast majority of contactless transactions. Together, these trends underscore resident demand for modern, convenient payment options at the counter.
“For staff,” the release continues, “those payment preferences translate into a smoother in-office experience by reducing friction at checkout, speeding up transactions, and helping lines move more efficiently during busy periods.”
“Sarasota County residents deserve the same modern, secure payment options they have come to expect everywhere else,” said Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran in the release. “PaymentExpress lets us offer tap-to-pay, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal), and stronger fraud protection at the counter and online,” he noted. “Adoption on the first day tells us residents were ready for it.”
A more efficient, secure in-office experience
The release explains, “The Tax Collector’s new PIN pad terminals accept tap-to-pay, contactless cards, and digital wallets, giving residents a faster, more convenient way to pay at the counter. The terminals also use point-to-point encryption, protecting card data from the moment a payment is presented through completion, reducing risk and simplifying PCI scope for the Tax Collector’s office.”
The release further notes the following:
- “Signatures are no longer required, speeding up transactions.
- Receipts may be printed or emailed, “based on customer preference.
“Together,” the release continues, “these changes reduce transaction time, improve the in-office experience, and allow staff to serve more customers with less manual effort.”
Expanded online options and fewer failed payments
“PaymentExpress also enhances the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office online payment experience, giving residents more ways to pay from anywhere, including via digital wallets,” the release points out.
“For staff, built-in [National Automated Clearing House Association]-compliant bank account validation helps catch invalid e-checks at the point of payment, reducing returned transactions and the manual follow-up required to resolve them. This leads to fewer payment errors, less back-office rework, and more reliable collections overall.”