NATCHEZ — The deadline to pay delinquent property taxes is coming up fast, and residents could risk losing their property if they miss it.

Just a few months ahead of the August deadline, the Adams County Chancery Clerk’s Office Deputy Clerk Paige Dean said she wants to remind residents of the pending deadline.

“I just want to give everyone time to get into the office before the deadline,” Dean said. “Anything can happen. Don’t wait to the last minute.”

Each year, Dean said, taxpayers lose property for failure to pay delinquent taxes.

The deadline to pay 2015’s delinquent taxes is 5 p.m. Aug. 29.

Residents who did not pay taxes by Jan. 31, 2016, began accruing a 1-percent charge added to their back taxes until the tax sale the following August.

Many properties were purchased in the original

After the sale, the interest rate increases to 1.5 percent and the residents have two years to redeem his or her property by paying the back taxes and interest.

“That’s another reason I tell people to get in here as soon as possible,” she said. “It’s accruing interest each month.”

Dean said the chancery clerk’s office must notify residents by mail at least 60 days before the end of the two-year period.

In her first mailing, Dean said she sent out 944 delinquent tax notices.

“Some have paid since the first mailing, and I’m about to send out a second mailing,” Dean said. “I’m hoping it will be a little less than that, but I won’t know until I actually run the numbers.”

Law dictates that the chancery clerk’s office must also advertise a list of remaining delinquent taxpayers at least 45 days before the end of the redemption period.

Dean said she plans to advertise these delinquent taxes on June 24.

Those who have delinquent taxes can still redeem their property, however, until the Aug. 29 deadline.

As of Aug. 30, however, the properties will no longer belong to the prior taxpayers.

The Adams County Chancery Clerk’s office accepts cashier’s checks, checks, money orders, credit cards or cash to pay the delinquent taxes, but personal checks will not be accepted after Aug. 1.