The Newport Plain Talk

NEWPORT-Cocke County Clerk Janice Butler is now offering online tag renewals, online business tax payments and online marriage pre-application.

"We just started Monday and we've already have seven people use it," said Butler. "It appears it's going to be very popular with Cocke County residents."

Butler said Cocke County is among the first in the state to offer the online services.

"This is just another service the people of Cocke County deserve," she added.

"This will be a great convenience for Cocke County Clerk's constituents to be able to renew their tags 24 hours a day."

Butler said the person wishing to renew their tags online shall have registered their vehicle within Cocke County. The user will then log on to a secure site www.tncountyclerk.com and enter their license plate and title number that will bring up the vehicle information. No personal information will be returned for security reasons.

The user will follow the instructions and pay with a credit card (VISA/MasterCard) for their renewal. The order will be processed within one business day of receipt. The entire process will take two to three days for postal delivery.

Butler said the fee for renewal is $24, with an additional $3.54 charge to cover mailing costs and card fee. Lesley Hedgepath will handle the online tag renewals.

The online business tax system will allow citizens to calculate and pay their business tax online. The system will require the user to enter their license number and account number. Only public information will be brought back to allow the user to compute and pay their business tax. Once paid, the Clerk's Office will process the business tax application and mail the license back to the user.

The user may also complete the business tax return online and mail it along with a check to the Clerk's Office, which will process the return and mail receipts back to the customer. Business tax accounts will be handled by Nan Smith in the Clerk's Office.

The online marriage pre-application will allow citizens to fill out their marriage information online. The user would then go to the Clerk's Office where the typed-in information will be retrieved and processed. This will take what usually is a 20 to 30-minute transaction down to under five minutes.

Even with the online services, Butler said her office will maintain its regular business hours, which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday; and 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Subscribe to The Newport Plain Talk by clicking SUBSCRIBE. Sign up for Breaking News emails from The Newport Plain Talk by clicking EMAIL ALERTS and inputting your email address next to "Add Me" near the top right corner.