Greenberg’s office will use BitPay to accept Bitcoin cryptocurrencies for the payment of property taxes, driver’s license fees, and vehicular tags.
By Sean David Hartman
In a historic move that some may consider either risky or rewarding, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg has announced that the Tax Collector’s Office will be accepting Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash as a form of payment, including for taxes.
The move would make Seminole County the first government in the nation to accept crypto-currency. According to Tax Collector Greenberg, accepting Bitcoin payments would eliminate many of the fees required when charging by credit or debit card.
“We live in a world where technology has made access to services on demand, with same-day delivery and the expectation of highly efficient customer service and we should expect the same from our government,” Tax Collector Greenberg said.
“The aim of my tenure in office is to make our customer experience faster, smarter, and more efficient, and to bring government services from the 18th century into the 21st century and one way is the addition of cryptocurrency to our payment options.”
Greenberg’s office will use BitPay to accept Bitcoin cryptocurrencies for the payment of property taxes, driver’s license fees, and vehicular tags.
Bitcoin made national headlines last year with the massive growth in price being that lead to a quasi-bubble to burst and massive losses. Cryptocurrency is seen as too unpredictable by some financiers and investors, with some notable financial leaders like Warren Buffett railing against it.
But with the use BitPay, the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office would receive the cryptocurrency converted into dollars, eliminating the risk by essentially selling the coin at market value, as if it was itself currency.
BitPay also eliminates the potential of credit card fraud and identity theft using push transactions, as well as curbing the costs for credit transactions with a single 1% fee.
“BitPay was started because we recognize the potential for blockchain to revolutionize the financial industry, making payments faster, more secure, and less expensive on a global scale,” said Jeremie Beaudry, BitPay’s Head of Compliance. “With the Seminole County Tax Collector’s office, we have engaged our first government agency to accept bitcoin and bitcoin cash by making it easy and seamless for them.”
Bitcoin blockchain is a unique technology that acts as a sort of open spreadsheet, allowing for transparency and making fraud virtually impossible.
This move is a big wager for Mr. Greenberg, but if successful, could revolutionize governmental bureaucracy.
Sean David Hartman is a freelance reporter for the Central Florida Post, with a wide portfolio ranging from entertainment to politics. He is a centrist political operative and blogger and a student at UCF. Hartman is autistic and bipolar, and supports the neurodiversity movement.
