Partial payments on unpaid property taxes can ease the financial strain of paying late.

“The easiest way to pay is online,” Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said. “It’s surgical.”

After visiting the Treasurer’s website at cookcountytreasurer.com, the only thing a taxpayer needs is the Property Index Number (PIN) of the house or other property being billed, the checking or savings account numbers and the bank routing numbers, all of which are found on checks, Pappas said.

The taxpayer can make full and partial payments any time until the bill is fully paid, up to when unpaid bills must be auctioned at the next year’s Annual Tax Sale.

Pappas said about 264,000 property owners owe on bills for tax year 2014, mailed and payable this year, and may not know that they can make partial payments.

“While making a whole payment is preferable, it is not always possible,” Pappas said. “When it’s not possible to pay in full, making partial payments can help ease the strain for owners of homes, businesses and land who owe property taxes.”

Interest is based on the total tax due. Unpaid tax balances accrue statutory interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month. Thus, less tax due means less interest due until the taxpayer can pay the balance.

“If you owe taxes, you don’t need to wait to pay in full,” Pappas said. “Pay what you can now and ease your way to final payment. But finish paying before your unpaid bill has to be sent to possible auction at the Tax Sale.”