The first 2026-27 installment can be paid online, by mail, drop box, phone or in person. Unpaid balances begin accruing 1.5% monthly interest Oct. 1.
By Hola Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Polk County property owners have through Wednesday, Sept. 30, to pay the first installment of their 2026-27 property taxes without late interest.
Beginning Oct. 1, unpaid Polk County property taxes accrue 1.5% interest per month, rounded to the nearest dollar, with a minimum charge of $1. The second installment can be paid through March 31, 2027, before interest begins April 1.
Property owners can pay online through Iowa Tax and Tags, by phone, by U.S. mail, through the drop box at the Polk County Administration Building or in person at the Treasurer’s Office.
Property owners whose taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account may already have the payment handled by their mortgage company. Checking the current tax balance can help avoid making the same payment twice.
Online payments are available through Iowa Tax and Tags
Polk County accepts online property tax payments through Iowa Tax and Tags.
The system allows taxpayers to locate their property and make an electronic payment. Transaction fees may apply depending on the payment method and are displayed as part of the payment process.
Property tax payments can also be made by phone at 515-286-3060 using an e-check, credit card or debit card. Transaction fees apply to electronic payments.
Mailed payments need a Sept. 30 postmark
Payments sent by U.S. mail can be made by check, cashier’s check or money order. Polk County does not accept cash or credit card payments by mail.
Checks should be made payable to Mary L. Wells, Polk County Treasurer and mailed to:
Polk County Treasurer
111 Court Ave., Room 154
Des Moines, IA 50309
The U.S. Postal Service postmark is used to determine the mailing date. A payment postmarked no later than Sept. 30 is considered timely.
The drop box accepts payments through midnight Sept. 30
The county maintains a secure drop box near the south entrance of the Polk County Administration Building at 111 Court Ave. in Des Moines.
Payments placed in the drop box by midnight on Sept. 30 are considered received on time. Checks, cashier’s checks or money orders should be placed in a sealed envelope with the necessary payment information. Cash should not be placed in the drop box.
The Treasurer’s Office is open weekdays for in-person payments
Property tax payments can also be made in person at the Polk County Administration Building, Room 154.
Regular office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are highly recommended, although limited walk-in service is available.
Questions about a Polk County property tax bill or payment can be directed to the Property Tax Division at 515-286-3060.
Late interest begins Oct. 1 at 1.5% per month
A first installment that remains unpaid after Sept. 30 becomes delinquent. Polk County assesses interest at 1.5% per month on the unpaid balance, rounded to the nearest dollar, with a minimum charge of $1.
Property taxes that remain delinquent can eventually become subject to the county’s annual tax sale process. The immediate consequence after the September deadline is the monthly interest charge.
Paying the bill is separate from Iowa’s Homestead Exemption
The Sept. 30 deadline applies to the property tax bill currently due. Iowa’s Homestead Exemption is a separate property tax benefit that reduces the taxable value used to calculate a qualifying homeowner’s future bill.
Iowa replaced its former Homestead Tax Credit with a new exemption for the 2026 assessment year. The exemption equals 10% of taxable homestead value, with a minimum of $5,500 and a maximum of $20,000 for 2026.
The timing is important: the 2026 Homestead Exemption will first affect property taxes payable in September 2027 and March 2028. It does not change the installment due Sept. 30, 2026.
Related: Iowa replaced its homestead tax credit with a 10% exemption: what homeowners get
Iowa also has a separate property tax credit for some seniors and disabled homeowners
The Iowa Property Tax Credit for Senior and Disabled Citizens is another program separate from both the regular tax payment and the Homestead Exemption.
State rules generally require eligible homeowners to be at least 65 years old or totally disabled and to meet annual household income requirements. Claims are filed with the county treasurer.
The regular filing deadline is June 1, although county treasurers may grant extensions under state rules. Polk County currently states that late 2026 Senior and Disabled Property Tax Credit forms must be received no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
Related: Iowa property tax credit for seniors and disabled homeowners: who qualifies
Approval of a credit and payment of the current property tax bill are separate processes. Property owners with questions about how a pending credit affects their balance can contact the Polk County Treasurer before the Sept. 30 payment deadline.
Homeowners outside Polk County can locate their own county treasurer through the Iowa County Treasurers Association directory. Payment methods, office hours and local procedures can vary by county.
The Polk County Property Tax Division can be reached at 515-286-3060. The first installment remains payable without late interest through Sept. 30; interest begins Oct. 1.
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