Your saved payment methods
3 saved · 2-factor required to add or remove3 payment methods on file
VISA
Chase Sapphire Reserve
★ DEFAULT 2.45% card fee Used for 1 autopay account
ACH
Capital One Checking
✓ NO FEE Used for 3 autopay accounts · verified Mar 2024
MC
Mastercard backup
2.45% card fee Not currently used for autopay
Autopay by account
6 accounts · 4 on autopayWater & sewer
Payment method
Not set · autopay off
Schedule
Manual · monthly
Property tax
Payment method
Chase escrow via mortgage
Schedule
Twice yearly · Jul / Dec
Resident parking permit
Payment method
Capital One •••• 5519
Schedule
Annually · April 1
Mooring permit
Payment method
Capital One •••• 5519
Schedule
Annually · April 1
Pip Moyer Rec membership
Payment method
Chase Visa •••• 2847
Schedule
Monthly · 1st of month
Building permit · deck
Payment method
One-time only · n/a
Schedule
No recurring charges
Add a payment method
Encrypted & tokenized · we never store your full card numberAdd a new card or bank account.
Choose what to add. Bank transfers are always free for city payments — cards have a 2.45% processing fee added by the card networks (not Annapolis).
🏦 Bank account (ACH)
FREE · 3 business days to debit
💳 Credit or debit card
2.45% FEE · instant debit · all major networks
✓
I authorize the City of Annapolis to debit this account for selected bills and any one-time payments I initiate. I understand I can cancel autopay at any time. Two micro-deposits will be sent within 2 business days to verify ownership.
How we keep your data safe
PCI-DSS Level 1 · NACHA · MD state standardsBank-grade security · in plain English.
We never see or store your full card numbers or bank account numbers. Payment data lives only with our PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. The city receives a token that lets us charge — but is useless to anyone else.
End-to-end encryption
TLS 1.3 in transit · AES-256 at rest · the city never sees your card number
Tokenization
Your card becomes a unique token. Even if our database leaked, the token is unusable elsewhere.
Notifications before every debit
7-day heads-up email and SMS · review or cancel any pending payment
2-factor for changes
Adding, removing, or modifying methods requires SMS or authenticator code
PCI-DSS Level 1 certified
The highest tier of payment card security · audited annually
Cancel any time
Turn off autopay or remove a method in 2 clicks. No hold periods, no penalties.
Common questions
What people ask before turning on autopayWhat if my bill is wrong — can I dispute after autopay charges?
Yes. Autopay doesn't waive your right to dispute. You can file a billing dispute up to 60 days after the charge through your account dashboard. If we agree the bill was wrong, we'll refund within 5 business days. If you suspect a problem before the autopay date, you can pause the upcoming charge with one click — it won't pull while disputed.
How much advance notice do I get before autopay charges?
Seven days before any autopay debit, you get an email (and optionally SMS) showing the exact amount, the account, and a one-click link to pause this month's charge. We also send a confirmation email the day the charge actually processes.
Why does my credit card have a fee but bank transfer doesn't?
Card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) charge merchants a processing fee — typically 2.4–2.9% per transaction. Cities are legally allowed to pass that fee through to you rather than spread it across all taxpayers. Bank transfers (ACH) are nearly free for us to process, so we don't add a fee. If you want to avoid the card fee, link a bank account instead.
Can I set different payment methods for different accounts?
Yes — and you should. Many residents use a credit card for parking and rec center fees (small amounts, points are worth more than the fee) and a bank transfer for water and tax (larger amounts where the 2.45% fee adds up). Configure each account independently above.
What happens if a payment fails (insufficient funds, expired card)?
We retry once after 5 business days. If the second attempt also fails, autopay is automatically paused and you'll get an email plus a phone call. No late fee on the first failure — we give you 10 days to update your method before any penalty applies.
Is there a hardship program if I can't keep up with bills?
Yes. The city offers payment plans, water bill discounts for income-qualified households, and property tax deferrals for seniors and people with disabilities. None of these require autopay. Call 410-263-7949 · option 5 and a customer service rep will walk you through what applies. No judgment, no documentation needed up front.