Carbon County is extending the county property tax deadlines to try to help taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it could cost the county thousands for doing so.

On Thursday, Commissioner Rocky Ahner announced that the county has pushed the base period for county property taxes to Oct. 31 to “give the taxpayer a few months extra for some relief until the stimulus, unemployment or they return to work would happen.” The original base period deadline was July 31.

The penalty period for county taxes will now begin on Nov. 1 instead of Aug. 1.

Ahner said that the county chose Nov. 1 instead of the end of the year because officials didn’t want to lead taxpayers into thinking they can pay their current taxes after Jan. 1.

“Jan. 1 is when the lien process is put into motion,” Ahner said. “I don’t think we want our sheriff to serve lien notices to people over a misunderstanding.”

The county is keeping the 2% discount period the same because of multiple factors, such as taxes tied into escrows and tax collectors would need to send out notices to banks, which can be all over the United States.

Ahner said the changes will cost the county upward of $60,000, but it’s the right thing to do for the taxpayers.

“None of us liked the hand we were dealt,” he said. “Working together is what’s going to get us out of this mess were in.”

Letters regarding the changes will be sent out to the taxpayers in the coming weeks.