why do tax collectors collect in their own name (Check made out directly in name of tax collecor)?

Answer 1

It's tradition most likely. In many parts of the country the tax collector is an elected office. It's as much a ploy to have the candidate's name fresh in the mind of the electorate as anything else. If it bugs you, just make your check out to " County Tax Collector" and send it in. It will clear either way.

In most jurisdictions the tax collector is barred by law from buying tax deeds. Too much chance for conflict of interest or chicanery.

Answer 2

When I lived in Connecticut, real estate tax checks were supposed to be made out to the person who was responsible for collecting the taxes for the year for which the tax was being paid, even if the tax was being paid late and another tax collector had already taken office. (This meant that if you paid the taxes for two years at the same time, you sometimes needed to make the checks out to different persons.) This may have been to segregate the funds into separate accounts, based on which collector was responsible for the funds. However, to prevent the collector from putting the money into a personal account instead of the government's account, I wrote my check to "Torrington Tax Collector" instead of the person's name.

Answer 3

I hope you didn't write the check before asking lots of questions. I have never heard of this. What kind of taxes? This doesn't sound right to me.

Answer 4

hmmm, I didn't know that was the case. They must have bought the debt and are now trying to collect on their behalf.