CROWN POINT | Lake County property tax bills may come late enough this year to not only curdle taxpayers' holiday punch, but also add to their federal taxes.

County Treasurer John Petalas urged taxpayers to make advance property tax payments and not to wait until they receive their long overdue bills in the mail.

"If they wait, they could lose their income tax deductions," Petalas said.

Residents can reduce federal income taxes they pay next year by reporting the amount of property taxes they paid this year -- if they use itemized tax forms.

Property taxes are usually paid by early fall, but this year's complex property reassessment has delayed the billing schedule.

Michael Wieser, director of finance for the county auditor's office, said he still is processing tax data to come up with individual bills that may not arrive in the mail until late in December.

Petalas said that would mean property tax deadlines would be held over until January and February. Waiting until then could disqualify property tax payments as federal tax deductions.

He said taxpayers could avoid this trouble by making payments before the bills arrive. He said taxpayers could call or come into his office at 2293 N. Main St. after Thanksgiving to learn their exact bills and pay them.

County Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said taxpayers are reluctant to pay in advance for fear someone will miscalculate and they will be overbilled.

Petalas insists his office will get it right and is ready to endure long lines to ensure taxes are paid as soon as possible so schools, towns, cities and other local government units will have money to meet their payrolls.

The treasurer's office will notify banks and other mortgage institutions, which hold about 40 percent of homeowners' taxes in escrow accounts, that tax bills are late, but coming, Petalas said. This will prevent the institutions from refunding escrow money back to homeowners, he said.

Any homeowner who inadvertently gets an escrow refund check should redeposit it in their mortgage accounts, Petalas said.