Frequently Asked Questions
- When are real estate and personal property taxes due?
- What is a mill levy?
- How are taxes calculated?
- What are "specials"?
- How does the tax foreclosure process work?
- Can I pay real estate and personal property taxes with my credit card?
- Can I make partial payments for real estate/personal property tax?
- What kind of financial assistance is offered to seniors or low income taxpayers?
- How do I protest my taxes?
- What if I'm late paying my real estate/personal property taxes?
- When is the Tax Distribution?
- How to Request Records for Treasurer Office?
- How can I prepay my taxes?
When are real estate and personal property taxes due?
Statements are mailed out each year in November. The first half, or full amount, is due by December 20. The second half is then due on May 10 of the following year. If you miss the December 20 deadline, interest will be charged.
A mill is the amount charged per thousand dollars of assessed value to calculate ad valorem taxes. It is determined each year according to the budgets established by the taxing districts.
Real estate taxes on residential properties are calculated by taking a percentage of the appraised property value and multiplying that figure by the mill levy for the appropriate taxing district(s). Then divide by 1000, since the mill levy is calculated per $1000 of assessed value.
Specials are additional assessments charged against real property for improvements to the immediate area; this could include streets, sewers, sidewalks and more. Specials are normally added to the real property tax bill for 10 to 15 years, unless they were prepaid.
How does the tax foreclosure process work?
Properties with delinquent taxes of 3 1/2 years are eligible to be sold at a public auction to the highest bidder. A sale date will be determined at least 30 days prior to any sale. There are usually three sales each year; the sale dates and listings of properties to be sold will be published in a daily newspaper designated by Sedgwick County. Currently, that publication is the The Derby Informer. Listings will also be available in the Treasurer's Office after publication. Properties may be pulled from the sale if owner, heirs or lien holder of record pays in full all delinquent taxes, interest and court fees prior to the actual day of auction.
Can I pay real estate and personal property taxes with a credit card?
Currently, we accept credit card payments online, over the phone (1-833-303-6683) and at the Ruffin Building 100 N. Broadway, Ste. 100 Wichita, KS 67202 for real and personal property taxes. After you find your property using the search function, you will have the option to pay online.
Can I make partial payments for real estate/personal property tax?
You may make partial payments on real and personal property taxes unless the real estate has been chosen for foreclosure sale. Once real estate is selected for foreclosure, all taxes, interest and court fees must be paid in full to pull the property out of foreclosure. Be aware that interest will accrue on any unpaid balance as allowed by law. You will be unable to renew vehicle tags until your delinquent personal property tax is paid in full.
What kind of financial assistance is offered to seniors or low income taxpayers?
The only official program offered in Kansas for low-income or elderly taxpayers is the Homestead Program. This is a state-funded program; contact the State Homestead department at 1-785-368-8222 to see if you qualify or to file.
If you feel the value placed on your property is too high, you have two opportunities to appeal the valuation. The best time is soon after you receive the valuation notice from the Sedgwick County Appraiser. You'll have 30 days from the date the notice was mailed to appeal; instructions for the process are included with your valuation notice. If you miss the 30 day deadline, the second chance to appeal is at the time you pay the tax. While you must pay the first half due, you may file a protest at that time. Protest forms are available by clicking here. If a mortgage company pays your tax, you have until January 31 to file a protest in the Treasurer's Office.
What if I'm late paying my real estate/personal property taxes?
Real estate or personal property taxes not paid by December 20 are considered delinquent. Interest is added after the 20th of each month at 8 percent per annum in 2009, 7 percent per annum in 2010 and 7 percent per annum in 2011.
For real estate, interest is calculated on the first half only; you may pay the the first half plus interest due until May 10. After May 10, the full amount plus interest must be paid. Delinquent real estate information is published in August.
For personal property, if the first half is not paid by December 20, the full amount becomes due plus monthly interest. You can no longer pay half if the first half was not paid before December 20. Delinquent personal property taxes are published in October, and become Sheriff's warrants on April 21. If still unpaid, they become Court warrants on October 1. Delinquent personal taxes stay on the tax roll for 20 years.
January 20, 2023
A) Ad valorem
B) Motor vehicle, RV and KCovrs CMV
C) Paid in lieu of taxes, provided those payments have been received from the respective city clerks or treasurers.
March 20, 2023
A) Ad valorem
B) Motor vehicle, RV and KCovrs CMV
C) City/county highway *
June 5, 2023
A) Ad valorem
B) Motor vehicle, RV and KCovrs CMV
C) City/county highway *
September 20, 2023
A) Ad valorem
B) Motor vehicle, RV, and KCovrs CMV
C) City/county highway *
D) Vehicle excise tax *
E) Paid in lieu of taxes, provided the payments have been received
October 31, 2023
A) Ad valorem
B) Motor vehicle, RV, and KCovrs CMV
C) City/county highway *
D) Mineral *
December 20, 2023
A) Motor vehicle, RV, and KCovrs CMV
B) Vehicle excise tax *
* These distributions will be made as scheduled provided that the State Treasurer confirms remittance to the Sedgwick County Treasurer at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled distribution. State distribution confirmations received after the cut-off, may be distributed on the next scheduled distribution date.
How can I prepay my taxes?
The following guidelines are generated pursuant to Sedgwick County Home Rule Resolution No. 27-02. These guidelines are issued entirely at the discretion of the Sedgwick County Treasurer. Prepayment of non-delinquent ad valorem real & personal property taxes will only be made in conformity with the following payment guidelines and in conformity with all existing laws. These guidelines may be altered, amended, suspended or ended entirely at the discretion of the Sedgwick County Treasurer.
Taxpayer Application to Prepay Non-Delinquent Ad Valorem Real & Personal Property Taxes
Those taxpayers desiring to prepay Sedgwick County non-delinquent ad valorem real & personal property taxes must make written application to the Sedgwick County Treasurer. The Sedgwick County Treasurer’s decision whether to accept taxpayer’s written application is final. If such application is accepted by the Sedgwick County Treasurer, that taxpayer will be allowed to pay Sedgwick County non-delinquent ad valorem property taxes in advance of the date such taxes become due up to the date such taxes become delinquent under state law (December 21, May 11), so long as such prepayments are made pursuant to a written prepayment agreement in accordance with these guidelines.
At any time the Sedgwick County Treasurer may cancel such written prepayment agreement and, during such written agreement Sedgwick County Treasurer reserves the right to refuse to accept any or all prepayments of taxpayer not remitted in accordance with these guidelines or the terms of such written agreement.
Written Prepayment Agreement—No Interest on Prepayments Returned to Taxpayer
A valid written prepayment agreement bearing the signature of taxpayer and the Sedgwick County Treasurer will be completed and on file with the Sedgwick County Treasurer for every taxpayer participating hereunder. There will be no charge to the taxpayer for this service at this time. Should it become necessary to consider a fee for this service it will apply to agreements executed after the adoption of the fee and will not be applied retroactively. The Sedgwick County Treasurer’s expenses in administering the agreement and the program, which generated that agreement, are anticipated to be approximately equal to (or may exceed) any interest which Taxpayer might otherwise earn on the prepayments made. Taxpayer foregoes any and all claim to interest on payments made hereunder in consideration of the Treasurer’s administration expenses and also in return for Treasurer’s execution of the agreement. Prepayment agreements hereunder will not affect the tax foreclosure process, mortgage foreclosure process, or any other legal proceedings affecting real or personal property subject to such agreement, which at all times will proceed in accord with applicable law. Real & Personal Property parcels will remain eligible for tax foreclosure and/or mortgage foreclosure proceedings, in accordance with applicable law, unless the tax liability has been satisfied in full. It is presumed that redemption by taxpayer of real properties eligible for tax or mortgage foreclosure will occur as soon as lawful notice is given, pursuant to applicable law, of intent to foreclose.
Method of Prepayment
The minimum payments made by any taxpayer whose application hereunder is accepted by the Sedgwick County Treasurer will be either 1/5 of the half payment of the taxpayer’s ad valorem Real & Personal Property taxes next due, or 1/10 of full payment of the taxpayer’s ad valorem Real & Personal Property taxes next due, with a minimum monthly payment of $20.00. It is entirely the responsibility of taxpayer to actually deliver all prepayments to the Sedgwick County Treasurer in a timely fashion under these guidelines, within the terms of the applicable Prepayment Agreement and pursuant to existing law. Any such prepayment not timely received by the Sedgwick County Treasurer makes the taxpayer’s Prepayment Agreement voidable entirely at the option of the Sedgwick County Treasurer, regardless of whether subsequent prepayments are timely received and accepted by the Sedgwick County Treasurer. Payment made with a returned check are grounds for immediate cancellation of the prepayment privilege. Taxpayers whose application for prepayment hereunder are accepted by the Sedgwick County Treasurer will be furnished the appropriate number of payment coupons by the Sedgwick County Treasurer. A coupon must accompany each monthly payment.
Accounting for Prepayments
All prepayments hereunder will be held for the benefit of the taxpayer in a separate cash account in the Sedgwick County Treasurer’s trial balance, with an equal amount recorded in a separate liability account in the Treasurer’s trial balance reflecting the Treasurer’s liability. These accounts will be control accounts. A separate sub-account will be established for each taxpayer in order to accumulate taxpayer’s prepayments. At all times, the sum of the balances in the sub-accounts should equal the amount in the control account.
Application of Prepayments to Ad Valorem Taxes Due
Approximately one month prior to the applicable due date hereunder, the amount of prepayments accumulated for each taxpayer who has made payments hereunder will be posted to the tax statement account by the Sedgwick County Treasurer. When the tax statement is prepared, it will show the amount of the balance due for the next due date. Once the prepayments have been transferred to the appropriate tax liability hereunder, there will be no refunds to the taxpayer, except as required by applicable law.
Taxpayer Withdrawal of Prepayments
Until ad valorem Real & Personal Property tax statements are created and the amounts accumulated by each taxpayer participating in this prepayment program have been posted to their respective tax accounts, the ownership of the prepayments made hereunder resides with the taxpayer. Prior to the date that their taxes hereunder become delinquent, taxpayers (or their lawful designee or representative) making prepayments hereunder may withdraw some or all of the money they have accumulated in their prepayment account upon written request to the Sedgwick County Treasurer, provided such written demand for withdrawal is received by the Sedgwick County Treasurer before the date that such taxes become delinquent. Sedgwick County Treasurer will make reasonable efforts to issue a check to such requesting party within 10 business days of the date such request is received by the Sedgwick County Treasurer. Sedgwick County Treasurer will not pay interest on such withdrawn prepayments.
Payments Under Protest Unaffected
Payments under protest will not be affected by this program. As required by existing law, no payment under protest will be accepted by the Sedgwick County Treasurer unless a timely first half or full payment of the applicable property taxes has been received by the Sedgwick County Treasurer.