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1. When are my taxes due?

•Property Taxes are due in September and March of every year.
•The first half of taxes are due September 1st with penalty starting October 1st.
•The second half of taxes are due March 1st with penalty starting April 1st.

2. Where is my Property Tax Bill?

Tax bills are mailed out during the month of August after the Treasurer’s office receives certified taxes from the Linn County Auditor and all advance payments have been applied.

After the tax bills have been mailed out and you still do not have a bill, the Treasurer’s office can send out a replacement bill.

For real estate address changes, please contact the Linn County Auditor at 319-892-5300.

For mobile home address changes, please contact the Linn County Treasurer at 319-892-5500.

3. I don’t think my property is assessed correctly?

The Linn County Assessor determines property values and provides notification to property owners outside the City of Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Assessor determines property values and provides notification to property owners within the city limits. Please contact the Linn County Assessor’s Office at 319-892-5220 or the Cedar Rapids Assessor’s Office at 319-286-5888 for the latest valuation information on your property or for any questions.

4. How do I appeal my assessment?

You can appeal your assessment with the City of Cedar Rapids Assessor or you can call the at 319-286-5888 if you live within the city limits. If you live outside the city limits of Cedar Rapids, you will want to appeal your assessment with the Linn County Assessor or you can call them at 319-892-5220.

5. What happens at a Tax Sale?

The Annual Tax Sale is an auctioned sale of delinquent property taxes. Bidders have to pay a registration fee in order to buy properties at tax sale. They purchase the taxes for what is owing and then the hold a lien against the property. It could be for one dollar or thousands of dollars. The tax sale is every third Monday in June. There are two kinds of certificates. There is a regular certificate that is purchased the first time at tax sale. There is also a public bid (PB), taxes that are one year delinquent and no one purchased at the tax sale. Then it was offered again at the next year’s tax sale and then it was offered and purchased. If the tax sale is a regular certificate, the certificate holder has to wait a minimum of one year and nine months before they can start the process of taking deed to the property. They also have up to three years from the date that it was purchased at tax sale to start the process of taking deed to the property. If it goes past the three years since the date of purchase of the tax sale, then they can no longer take deed to the property. If the tax sale is a PB, the tax sale purchaser only has to wait nine months before starting the process of taking deed to the property. They have all the way up to three to start the process of taking deed to the property. If it goes past the three years since the date of purchase of the tax sale, then they can no longer take deed to the property Taking deed to a property by the tax sale process, it is a ninety day process. The property owner can still redeem the taxes during this time. Once the ninety days are up, the property owner will no longer be able to redeem and loses their property for the percentage of the tax sale certificate. Tax sales incur penalty or interest at 2% each month that it goes unredeemed. Once a property is at tax sale, any other delinquent subsequent taxes that still owe after Nov 15th and May 15th can be purchased by the tax sale certificate holder and added to the tax sale amount without having to wait until the 3rd Monday in June. Tax sales are redeemed with certified funds (cash, cashier’s check, or money order) and an Affidavit of Redemption of a Parcel sold for Taxes form.

Affidavit of Redemption

6. How do I pay property taxes?

Property taxes are due in September and March of every year. You may make partial payments at any time but any remaining balance still owing after the delinquent date (October 1 and April 1) will accrue penalty at 1 ½% interest per month.

You can pay either the full year in September or just the September installment.

Only one billing is sent out for your tax bill. The tax bill has two coupons at the bottom. Each coupon is for one half of the tax bill.
If you have bought or sold property, be sure to know if the buyer or seller is responsible for paying the taxes on each parcel. This is something that would have been discussed in your closing agreement.

You can pay property taxes by mail (please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope if you would like a receipt), in person, over the phone or online at:
www.iowataxandtags.org

7. Can I pay a full year of my property taxes in September?

•You can pay either the full year in September or just the September half.
•Only one billing is sent out for your tax bill. The bottom of the tax bill has two coupons. Each coupon is for each half of the tax bill. If you do not pay the full year in September, be sure to remember you will have the second half due in the month of March.
•If the last day of either September or March falls on a weekend, you will have the following business working day to pay your taxes without penalty.

8. How do I avoid paying penalty or costs?

•Be sure to bring your tax bill with you to pay them or include the coupons if you mail your payment to the office.
•We have a secure payment box at the kiosk.
•If you've bought or sold property, be sure to know if the buyer or seller is supposed to pay the taxes on each parcel. This is something that would have been discussed in your closing agreement. Since our tax bills are only billed once a year in the month of August you will not receive a tax bill from us because it has already been sent to the previous owner.
•Keep track of a list of your parcel numbers and a list of the payments made.
•Remember that taxes can always be paid online. It only costs 30 cents to use your checking account information to pay online.
www.iowataxandtags.org

9. Does my mortgage company pay my property taxes?

The Linn County Treasurer does not keep record of mortgage companies payment responsibility and if they should be making your property tax payment. You will want to contact your mortgage company if there is any question about whether they are going to make that payment or if you need to.

10. I just bought a mobile home. What do I need to do?

A tax clearance must be obtained first in order to transfer a mobile home title. A tax clearance is issued if ownership changes or if the home is moving. A tax clearance assures that all taxes are paid before the new owner(s) title it. After the tax clearance is obtained, a title transfer can be done. All owners that are going on the new title will need to sign the Iowa Application for Title. Please see the Motor Vehicle Title section for more information on transferring a mobile home title

11. Do I have Homestead credit and/ or Military Exemption on my bill?

The homestead credits and Military Exemptions are done with the Assessor’s office. If you live inside the City Limits of Cedar Rapids, then you would want to talk with the City of Cedar Rapids Assessor ( 319-286-5888). If you live outside of Cedar Rapids, then you want to talk to the Linn County Assessor (319-892-5220). They will be able to give you the deadline for the credits and exemptions and when to have them forms filed. Click the link below to see where the homestead and military credit are on the tax bills.

Sample Property Tax Bill

12. How do I change my mailing address for my Real Estate Tax Bill?

All mailing address changes for real estate bills are done with the Linn County Auditor (319-892-5300).

13. Who should I make a check or money order payable to?

Please make checks or money orders payable to Linn County Treasurer.