Linn County residents are reminded the second installment of property and mobile home taxes is due and must be paid no later than March 31, 2015. This is the last day to pay the second half without penalty. A penalty of one and one half percent will attach to each late payment beginning April 1. Property taxes can be paid online, by mail, in person, or over the phone.
Pay Online
Residents can pay property taxes conveniently online rather than wait in line at the Treasurer’s Office by using VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit cards; eCheck; or Dwolla payments. eCheck payment of taxes costs 30 cents. Credit card payments have a non-refundable service delivery fee added to the tax amount due for the service of paying taxes online with a credit card. The exact amount due for property taxes and service delivery fee is calculated in Step 2 of this online service. Residents will have the opportunity to exit out of the payment process without completing the transaction if they choose to do so and pay by an alternate method. The County Treasurer’s Office receives only the property tax portion of the total amount due for online payments. To pay property taxes conveniently online, visit www.iowataxandtags.gov.
Pay by Mail
To avoid waiting in line, property taxes can also be paid by mail. If paying by mail, please tear off the corresponding payment stub and return with payment to the Linn County Treasurer, 935 2nd St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Payments postmarked March 31, 2015, will be considered paid on time and no interest will be charged. When mailing a tax payment, it must be postmarked by the post office, not a private postage meter machine, no later than March 31 in order to avoid penalties. State law does not allow any exceptions. The date written on a check or a business metered date cannot be accepted as proof of the mailing date. Residents who would like a receipt must include a self-addressed stamped envelope with their payment.
Pay at Local Banks
As a service to their customers, many Linn County banks collect property tax payments on behalf of the Treasurer’s Office. The corresponding tax payment stub must be submitted with the payment. Contact your bank for verification of this service.
Pay in Person
Property taxes can also be paid in person at the Linn County Treasurer’s Office at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. Free parking is available at the Public Service Center in the parking lot and on the street.
Pay Over the Phone
Property taxes can be paid over the phone by calling the Linn County Treasurer’s Office at (319) 892-5550 Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. Phone payments can be made with eCheck, credit cards, or Dwolla.
Residents can now sign up to receive email or text reminders about property tax payments by visiting Linn County’s website at www.linncounty.org and clicking the “Notify Me” section and signing up for the “Property Tax Payment Reminder.” There is no cost to subscribe. Text messages are subject to standard text messaging rates.
County Treasurers collect property taxes on behalf of all jurisdictions in the county and then distribute the taxes collected. Approximately 16 percent of property taxes paid by Linn County property owners in incorporated areas are used to fund Linn County government operations and services. The remaining 84 percent of property taxes goes to the property tax payer’s city of residence, school district, and other taxing bodies in the county. Linn County taxes represent slightly more than one-third of property taxes for rural residents.
For questions, call the Linn County Treasurer’s Office at (319) 892-5550.