Update, 1:11 p.m.: The city issued a press release on Saturday that said at least 33,000 taxpayer records were impacted when a billing system used by the city was upgraded.

"The Department of Finance will reimport this data, and, once that is completed, checked, and verified, they will issue real estate tax (bills) to mortgage lenders," the release said.

Officials encouraged residents who received an unexpected bill to contact their mortgage lender to ensure the bill gets paid correctly.

Original story:

The city of Richmond sent real estate tax bills to "several thousand" homeowners with mortgages, even though those bills are traditionally paid by the lending company, officials announced Saturday.

The Richmonder contacted the city on Friday night regarding the issue, and on Saturday morning, Mayor Danny Avula posted a message to social media.

"I am now aware that this is a system error in terms of getting the right data into the right place," he said.

"We need a little bit more time, but we will likely this afternoon get some direction up for you on RVA.gov, and recorded onto 311, so that you can know exactly what next steps to take."

Avula said he also received the bill.

"Many of you, like I, are confused, because typically this bill goes directly to my lender, who pays it on my behalf," he said. "And that did not happen this time."

Residents who have mortgages most likely will not have to pay the bill, as long as the issue can be sorted out with lenders who usually handle the tax payments.

"Do not make the mistake of double-paying," First District representative Gumby Breton said in a post to residents this morning.

The mixup happens as the city is continuing to sort through mistakes involving tax rebate checks, which were authorized last November but now won't arrive until at least June 30.