Avoiding tax penalties is a crucial component to staying on a productive financial path, but for some homeowners, a proactive approach is necessary. When Tina Vernon was elected to the Nevada County tax collector’s position in 2010 and assumed office, one of the first things she noticed was that new homeowners were often unfairly getting stuck with late penalties and interests on tax bills, of which they were not aware. “In 2011, I saw it happen a lot and I just felt it was not right,” Vernon said. What Vernon is referring to, is a process whereby when property is …