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Polk County Treasurer

Mary L. Wells

Took Office:
March 23, 2021

Welcome to the Polk County Treasurer’s online property tax and vehicle registration payment site! The Treasurer's Office is committed to providing a friendly, knowledgeable and efficient customer service experience, in person, on the telephone and online. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

We recommend you pay your property and vehicle renewal (tag) taxes online. It's easy, fast and safe. Online payment options include Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and eCheck - an electronic transfer of funds from your bank account to the County bank account.


Polk County Office Information

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Phone Number

Property Tax Division: (515) 286-3060
Vehicle Division: (515) 286-3030
Cash Management Division: (515) 286-3035
Administrative Division: (515) 286-3041

Location

Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue, Room 154
Des Moines IA 50309

Hours

Property Tax - Walk-in Customer Hours
Monday - Friday   7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
3rd Thursday of the month 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Title Transfers, Move-ins to Iowa, Trailers - Appointments are Required BOOK AN APPOINTMENT HERE 
Monday - Friday   7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
3rd Thursday of the month 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Vehicle Registration & Plate Replacement - Walk-in Customer Hours
Monday - Friday   7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
3rd Thursday of the month 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Phone Customer Hours
Monday - Friday   7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
3rd Thursday of the month 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Mailing Address

Polk County Treasurer's Office
111 Court Avenue, Room 154
Des Moines, IA 50309-2298

Payment Drop Box

The Payment Drop Box is located in the south side parking lot, in front of the Polk County Administration Building. Cash Payments are NOT accepted in the drop box.

Website

Office Staff

County Treasurer - Mary L. Wells
CEO - Rachelle Hunt 

Administrative Division Deputy - Vivian Hayashi           
Property Tax Division Deputy - Naomi Burrows
Vehicle Division Deputy - Charis Creighton
Cash Management Division - Accounting Manager - Sarah Smith

Holidays

The office is closed on the following dates:

2024

  • Labor Day - Monday, September 2, 2024
  • Veteran's Day - Monday, November 11, 2024
  • Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 28, 2024
  • Friday after Thanksgiving - Friday, November 29, 2024
  • Christmas Eve Day - Tuesday, December 24, 2024
  • Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25, 2024
  • New Year's Day 2025 - Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Property Tax

The Property Tax Division is responsible for collecting taxes for real estate property, mobile homes, utilities, bushels of grain, monies and credits, buildings on leased land, and city and county special assessments, including delinquent sewer rental and solid waste rates and charges for all tax levying and tax certifying entities of the county.

The Treasurer is also responsible for conducting the tax sale; processing tax sale redemptions; issuing tax sale deeds; processing tax suspensions; preparing plat and mobile home tax clearances; and administering the Iowa Property Tax Credit Program based on age/income.

Property Tax Contact Information

Phone: 515-286-3060
Fax: 515-323-5202

Property Tax Staff

Deputy Treasurer - Naomi Burrows
Administrative Supervisor - Zachary Bales
Administrative Supervisor - Mirela Demirovic

Tax Sale

The Polk County Treasurer is responsible for the administration of the Annual Tax Sale and must offer for sale, in an open competitive bidding process (Iowa Code Chapter 446), parcels in which taxes have become delinquent. The purpose of the tax sale is to collect unpaid taxes. The Annual Tax Sale takes place in June of each year.

Information for Tax Sale Buyers
PROPERTY TAX FORMS 

Browse common Property Tax related forms Property Tax Forms

Vehicle Renewals

The Vehicle Division issues vehicle titles, registration renewals, junking certificates, personalized and other special emblem plates; notates and releases security interests; collects fee for new registration (use tax), registration, and document fees; processes credits and refunds on vehicle registration fees; and serves as an agent of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Department of Revenue and Finance.

Vehicle Contact Information

Phone: 515-286-3030
Fax: 515-323-5202

Vehicle Staff

Deputy Treasurer - Charis Creighton
Administrative Supervisor - Raquel Hoveland
Administrative Supervisor - Rebecca Fazio
Administrative Supervisor - Kristi Moon

ORDER PERSONALIZED AND SPECIALTY PLATES ONLINE

The Iowa DOT website allows you to personalize your license plate, check availability, and reserve it.  If it is available and approved, your plates will be manufactured and delivered to the county treasurer's office in the county where you live.  You will be notified when the plates are ready to be picked up.

Personalized and Specialty Plates 

VEHICLE FORMS 

Browse common Title/Registration and related forms Vehicle Forms

Driver's License Services

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