The Last Payment Platform Local Governments Will Ever Need

The Last Payment Platform Local Governments Will Ever Need

When we ask city or county finance teams about their biggest headaches, one topic comes up again and again: payments. From the utilities to the courthouse, staff spend countless hours wrangling ancient systems, printing stacks of paper, and manually reconciling payments—often bouncing between multiple vendors and log-ins just to get the day’s bills closed.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

No More Patchwork Payment Systems

For years, local governments cobbled together payment platforms to accept cards in person, online, or by phone. Systems were built, and vendors were added as new payment methods or technologies emerged. The result? Siloed data, slow reporting, and costly maintenance—all with increased risk for errors and compliance headaches. Not to mention hundreds of hours of wasted labor chasing down errors and late payments.  According to industry surveys, nearly half of municipal payments are now made online, yet most residents still describe government payment systems as clunky or confusing. Why, because they put a nice interface on an aging system.

IntelliPay’s “County in the Cloud” suite flips this script. It doesn’t just connect payment channels—it automates the entire process so revenue hits accounts faster, staff work smarter, and citizens get the modern experience they expect. Whether property taxes, permits, or utilities, payments can be accepted in-person, online, or by mobile, all on one customizable platform. Yes, we bend to your needs; we don’t force you to bend over backward for a one-size-fits-all solution with features you don’t need and won’t use.

Zero Cost to Government, Unlimited Flexibility

Legacy platforms often force cities and counties into restricted programs, hidden fees, or endless vendor contracts. IntelliPay built its payment solutions with no-cost-to-biller options—even beyond major card brand programs—so agencies can legally shift transaction costs to fee-payers and fund public services without draining budgets. Flexibility means the platform is tuned to the unique rules, branding, and workflows of every agency instance, reducing manual intervention and virtually eliminating reconciliation headaches. Learn more about zero-cost options here.

Security, Compliance, and Reliability From Day One

Security and transparency are top concerns for every finance director. IntelliPay is Google Cloud-hosted and utilizes PCI DSS Level 1 and EMV-compliant infrastructure. Every transaction is encrypted and tokenized, whether it occurs at the counter or online. All transactions are on our network, reducing your PCI compliance scope. Again, IntelliPay is designed for complex government workflow compliance, enabling staff and administrators to view real-time records, automate reporting, and maintain comprehensive audit trails.

The Faster Digital And Checkless Future

When government goes digital, everyone benefits:

• Staff save time: Automated reconciliation can cut payment close-out hours by more than 50% each month.

• Citizens pay how and when they want—from cards to ACH to cash through online channels.

• Receipts issue instantly; reporting is available in real-time, and compliance is simpler at every step.

• Reduced PCI compliance scope and costs

Paper Checks Are Going Away

As paper-based and manual government payment processes phase out nationwide, integrated platforms like IntelliPay are fast becoming the backbone of efficient cities and counties. Automation and adaptability aren’t just buzzwords—they’re how today’s best-managed governments move revenue, comply with evolving laws, and delight residents.

With the U.S. government now mandating an end to paper checks for nearly all federal payments starting September 30, 2025, local agencies need to be ready.

Executive Order 14247 requires the Department of the Treasury and all federal agencies to convert disbursements and receipts—including tax refunds, Social Security payments, and vendor transactions—to secure electronic methods like direct deposit and debit cards. That means the paper check infrastructure will sunset, and governments must upgrade payment systems, outreach, and compliance as quickly as possible.

Forward-thinking local governments using platforms like IntelliPay will be ahead of the curve, ensuring their residents and vendors aren’t left behind and can benefit from faster, safer, and more reliable electronic payments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How quickly can a local government agency implement IntelliPay’s payment platform?
A: IntelliPay uses a consultative approach.  To identify needs and areas where help is urgently needed.  From this needs analysis, it develops an action plan where IntelliPay can be in place in as little as 45-60 days with minimal disruption, some customizing features to match unique payment needs and workflows can take longe.

Q: What payment methods can residents and businesses use with IntelliPay?
A: Citizens can pay via credit/debit cards, ACH/eChecks, eCash, digital wallets, or by text, email, online, mobile, and POS in-office—maximizing convenience and flexibility.

Q: Can our agency recover the cost of card acceptance?
A: Yes. IntelliPay offers true “no cost to biller” options, automating legally compliant service and convenience fees, so processing costs can be passed to the payor with full transparency.

Q: How does IntelliPay help with accounting and reconciliation?
A: IntelliPay can integrate with most existing systems, ensuring that all payments—regardless of channel—update in real-time, providing instant visibility, automated receipts, disbursement matching tools, and summary reports that eliminate tedious manual reconciliation

Q: Is IntelliPay compliant with PCI and other security standards?
A: Absolutely. The platform is PCI DSS Level 1 (highest level)  and EMV compliant, using cloud-hosted, encrypted infrastructure to keep payment data secure and keep agencies out of PCI scope. We can process Level 2 and Level 3 data, if needed.

Q: Does IntelliPay help agencies prepare for new federal mandates to eliminate paper checks?
A: Yes. With Executive Order 14247 phasing out government check payments, IntelliPay enables local governments to seamlessly transition to 100% digital and electronic payments, protecting revenue and ensuring compliance.

Q: How does IntelliPay minimize staff workload?
A: Automation reduces daily manual entry, refund processing, and exception handling, freeing staff to focus on higher-value tasks and improving customer service.

Q: How is IntelliPay different from other payment processors?
A: IntelliPay is purpose-built for government needs, offering flexible, customizable deployments, integrated reporting, and legally compliant fee models—all from a single, cloud-based platform designed to future-proof local government payments.

Executive Order 14247 Frequently Asked Quesitons (FAQ)

Q: What is Executive Order 14247?
A: Executive Order 14247 is a federal directive issued on March 25, 2025, requiring all U.S. government departments and agencies to transition from paper-based payments—including checks and money orders—to electronic payment methods beginning September 30, 2025.

Q: Which payments are affected by Executive Order 14247?
A: The order applies to all federal disbursements and receipts, including intragovernmental payments, benefits payments, vendor payments, tax refunds, and fees. All are mandated to move to electronic payment channels such as direct deposit, prepaid cards, and digital wallets, unless specifically exempted.

Q: Are there any exceptions to the paper check phase-out requirement?
A: Yes. The order allows strict exceptions for those who lack access to banking or electronic payment systems, certain emergency payments, security-related transactions, and other cases deemed necessary by the Secretary of the Treasury. Alternative payment options will be provided to those qualifying for these exceptions.

Q: How will local governments and agencies comply with Executive Order 14247?
A: Agencies must submit compliance plans outlining their transition strategies. They are required to inform payment recipients about electronic options and coordinate with the Department of the Treasury, which will provide systems and support for digital payments.

Q: What benefits does the order promise for the public sector and taxpayers?
A: The order aims to increase efficiency, reduce taxpayer costs (e.g., $657 million spent in 2024 on paper payments infrastructure), and improve security by minimizing lost, stolen, or fraudulent checks and providing faster, more reliable electronic payment options.

Q: What support is available for unbanked or underbanked populations affected by the order?
A: The Secretary of the Treasury and relevant agencies will work with financial institutions and advocacy groups to improve financial access and develop digital payment solutions for these populations, ensuring no recipient is left behind in the transition.