Authorized methods of payment -- Status of fees charged to a county clerk

(1) In addition to any payment method authorized by law and notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, a county clerk may accept the following methods of payment to collect taxes, state fees, and county clerk fees under this chapter and KRS Chapters 138 and 186A: (a) Credit card; (b) Debit card; (c) Electronic check; (d) Automated clearinghouse (ACH) debit; or (e) Any other electronic payment method upon the prior written approval of both the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the State Treasurer. (2) (a) Any fees charged to a county clerk by the provider of the payment services listed in subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed to represent collection expenses and may be considered normal operating expenses of the county clerk, or the county clerk may collect convenience fees from users to recover their costs of delivering services. (b) Any fee that is charged by a county clerk pursuant to this section shall, as to the payor, be deemed an additional amount of the taxes, state fees, and county clerk fees collected and not a collection expense, separate fee, or separate charge. (3) In addition to any payment method authorized by law and notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, a county clerk may pay internal clerk's office accounts, the Transportation Cabinet, other state agencies, and taxing districts using automated clearinghouse (ACH) debit.