eChecks Payment FAQs

1. What is an eCheck
2. What if there is a problem with the electronic fund transfer?
3. How quickly will funds be transferred from my account?
4. Is there a service fee for using the eCheck option?
5. What if the electronic fund transfer cannot be processed?
6. What if my eCheck is rejected by my bank for insufficient funds?
7. What if my eCheck transaction is rejected because I entered the bank routing number or/and account number incorrectly?
8. Will the electronic fund transfer appear on my account statement?
9. Where can I locate my Bank Routing and Bank Account Numbers on my check?
10. Can I pay more than one type of tax and or more than one tax bill with a single payment?
11. I have tax accounts from prior years, which are unpaid. How will this particular on-line payment be applied?
12. How do I know if this payment has been posted to my account(s)?
13. Will someone contact me if there are any questions on this on-line payment?
14. Why do I need to have Java Script turned on or use a newer browser version?
15. I am concerned about using my bank account information on the internet. What security is used to protect my personal information?
16. When I click on the back button to change or re-enter information only my personal information is still there. Why is the rest of my information not redisplayed?
17. I have a question about my tax payment that is not answered here. Whom may I contact?

1. What is an eCheck?

An eCheck (or electronic check) is an authorization given to the City of Alexandria allowing the City's bank to initiate an electronic transfer of funds from your banking account to the City’s banking account under strict laws governing your right to privacy and security.

2. What if there is a problem with the electronic fund transfer?

You should contact your financial institution immediately if you believe that the electronic fund transfer reported on your account statement was not properly authorized or is otherwise incorrect. Consumers have protections under a federal law called the Electronic Fund Transfer Act for unauthorized or incorrect electronic fund transfers.

3. How quickly will funds be transferred from my account?

The electronic fund transfer from your account will usually occur within 24 hours, which is faster than a check is normally processed. Therefore, you should be sure that there are sufficient funds available in your checking account when you submit your eCheck.

4. Is there a service fee for using the eCheck option?

There is no fee for using eCheck.

5. What if the electronic fund transfer cannot be processed?

In rare instances, it may not be possible to use an eCheck. In some cases, checks drawn on foreign banks or on accounts other than a standard bank savings or checking account may not be accepted.

6. What if my eCheck is rejected by my bank for insufficient funds?

If the electronic fund transfer cannot be completed because there are insufficient funds in your account, the City may try to make the transfer up to two more times and will impose a one-time fee of $35 against your account, which the City will also collect by electronic fund transfer.

7. What if my eCheck transaction is rejected because I entered the bank routing number or/and account number incorrectly?

The City will notify you and give you an opportunity to correct the error before the payment transaction is re-submitted. Your parking ticket or tax bill account will not be credited with the payment and date of initial submission of payment until the City receives the funds. You may incur late payment penalty if the error results in payment being made after the due date. Payment rejected due to bank or City error will not incur a penalty and will be credited on the date submitted.

8. Will the electronic fund transfer appear on my account statement? 

The electronic fund transfer from your account will be on the account statement that you receive from your financial institution. However, the transfer may be in a different place on your statement than the place where your checks normally appear. For example, it may appear under "other withdrawals" or "other transactions."

9. Where can I locate my Bank Routing and Bank Account Numbers on my check?

Your Bank Routing and Bank Account Numbers can be located at the bottom of your check. Your Bank Routing Number is the 9 digits between and , and your Account Number is between and to the right of the routing number. Do not confuse these numbers with the check number that is printed either to the left or to the right of the account number. Your check number should not be included in your submission.

10. Can I pay more than one type of tax and or more than one tax bill with a single payment?

No. The City will, in the very near future, allow you to pay more than one parking ticket and/or tax bill with a single payment using an eCheck.

11. I have unpaid tax accounts from prior years. How will this particular online payment be applied?

Virginia law requires staff to apply tax payments to the oldest delinquent account. You are still responsible for the unpaid accounts.

12. How do I know if this payment has been posted to my account(s)?

13. Will someone contact me if there are any questions on this online payment?

Yes. It is important that you give the City your daytime telephone number and email address. The City will try at least once to contact you, if needed, using the information you have provided.

14. Why do I need to have Java Script turned on or use a newer browser version?

This form and many other features of the website take advantage of the extra features and power of the newer browsers to enhance service and provide information to you. The JavaScript in these forms checks your information to make sure that you did not mistype. This will allow the most efficient processing of your information. It also allows the form to "remember" who you are so that you do not need to enter certain information again in the future. You can get the newest browser from this link for Internet Explorer.

15. I am concerned about using my banking account information on the internet. What security is used to protect my personal information? 

While you should always be aware of fraud, paying the City of Alexandria with an eCheck on the internet is no more insecure than mailing a check or handing a check to a cashier. The City of Alexandria uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) services to encrypt all transactions on the City web server. SSL is a communications protocol that encrypts and authenticates communications across the internet. SSL is used mostly (but not exclusively) in communications between web browsers and web servers. SSL provides privacy, authentication, and message integrity to prevent eavesdropping, forgery, and tampering. The City of Alexandria also employs internal security measures to protect your information.

16. When I click on the back button to change or re-enter information only my personal information is still there. Where is the rest of my information?

This is very common for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers and is due to a setting on your system. The setting forces the IE browser to not cache or save information from encrypted pages. If you want to save or cache encrypted pages you must change the setting by opening IE, clicking on VIEW then INTERNET OPTIONS and selecting ADVANCED from the tabs. On the Advanced tab, you must scroll the list down to SECURITY and make sure that the box for "Do Not Save Encrypted Pages to Disk" is unchecked. Once you click APPLY, you should be able to use the back button to correct your information easily.

17. I have a question about my tax payment that is not answered here. What should I do?

If you have any questions, please contact:

Treasury Division
301 King Street, Room 1510
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703.746.3902
Email: