County Treasurer
The Polk County Treasurer’s Office handles several services that residents commonly need for property taxes and motor vehicles, including collecting property tax payments, processing vehicle titles and registration renewals, issuing certain license plates, recording and releasing vehicle security interests, and administering the county’s annual tax sale. This page explains which Treasurer service applies to a particular transaction, when appointments are required, how payments and documents may be submitted, what to prepare for vehicle title work, and which deadlines or processing rules can affect a transaction.
Treasurer Services and Responsibilities
The Polk County Treasurer’s Office is the county office responsible for two major groups of public services: property tax administration and vehicle-related transactions. Choosing the correct division and transaction type before submitting paperwork can prevent delays, particularly when an appointment is required.
For property taxes, the Treasurer collects taxes on real estate, mobile homes, utilities, bushels of grain, buildings on leased land, and city and county special assessments. The office also conducts the annual tax sale for delinquent taxes and administers the Iowa Property Tax Credit Program.
On the vehicle side, the Treasurer issues vehicle titles, processes registration renewals, issues junking certificates, handles personalized and other special emblem plates, records and releases security interests, and processes certain vehicle registration credits and refunds. The office also serves as an agent of the Iowa Department of Transportation for registration renewal and title review.
The Treasurer additionally serves as a collection agent for the Iowa Department of Revenue, the Polk County Clerk of Court, and local municipalities when payment is required for outstanding parking tickets. These responsibilities are separate from ordinary vehicle registration and title work, so residents should make sure they are addressing the specific obligation connected to their transaction.
Property Tax Payment Schedule
Polk County property taxes are paid in two installments. The first installment is due by September 30. Beginning October 1, interest of 1.5% is charged. The second installment is due by March 31, with 1.5% interest beginning April 1.
The county’s property tax information page is the appropriate starting point for payment deadlines, delinquent-tax matters, tax sale redemption, and the Treasurer’s property tax responsibilities.
Residents who need to make a property tax payment in person or redeem a tax sale can schedule an appointment. Property tax appointments are also used for certain manufactured or mobile home transactions. Vehicle work cannot be processed under the property tax appointment type, so anyone needing both property tax and vehicle services must use the appropriate service selection for each transaction.
Deadlines and Late Interest
The September 30 and March 31 deadlines are significant because interest begins immediately after each respective deadline. A taxpayer submitting payment by mail should also pay attention to the mailing rules. For mailed payments, proof of mailing is based on the U.S. Postal Service postmark.
Payments deposited in the Treasurer’s drop box by midnight on the applicable deadline are considered received on time. Because drop-box collections occur once daily, the time when staff physically remove the payment is not the same as the deadline rule for a payment properly placed in the box by midnight.
Ways to Make Payments
The Treasurer provides several payment and document-delivery methods. The official payment options page explains online, phone, mail, drop-box, and in-office methods.
Online Payments
Property taxes and vehicle registration renewal fees can be paid online through IowaTaxAndTags. The Treasurer describes online payment as the fastest payment process. Online users receive email confirmation, and renewed vehicle registrations are mailed the next business day after payment is processed.
Online payment is particularly useful for routine vehicle registration renewals because it avoids an office visit. Residents should still make sure they are using the correct online transaction. A vehicle title transfer is different from a registration renewal and requires title documents rather than only a renewal payment.
Payments by Phone
Property tax and vehicle registration payments may also be made by phone using e-check, credit card, or debit card. Transaction fees apply. For an e-check, the payer should have the bank routing number and account number available.
For a property tax payment by phone, the Treasurer asks the caller to have the parcel number or property address available. For a vehicle registration payment, the license plate number should be available. Preparing the correct identifying information before calling helps staff locate the appropriate account or registration.
Mail and Drop Box
Payments sent through U.S. Mail may be made by check, cashier’s check, or money order. Cash and credit card payments are not accepted through the mail. Checks should be payable to Mary L. Wells, Polk County Treasurer. The Treasurer also asks residents to include a phone number in the memo-line area of the check so staff can make contact if a question arises.
The drop box can be used for payments and certain document submissions. Items should be secured in a sealed envelope, and cash is not accepted. Residents submitting documents should include contact information in case additional information is needed to process the request.
Title-transfer documents can be submitted by mail or through the drop box. When documents are submitted this way, including a phone number is especially useful because incomplete or unclear title paperwork can delay processing.
Vehicle Services Through the Treasurer
The Treasurer’s vehicle division handles vehicle titles, registration renewals, junking certificates, personalized and specialty plates, security interests, registration-related fees, and certain credits and refunds.
An appointment is required for an in-person vehicle title transfer and is encouraged for other office transactions. Routine vehicle registration renewal can often be completed online instead of in person.
Vehicle Titles and Registration
A title transfer is required whenever information on the front of a title changes. This includes a change in ownership after a sale or gift, moving into Iowa, certain changes resulting from death or divorce, and requests involving a junking certificate.
The title-transfer process can apply to motor vehicles, mobile or manufactured homes, and towable trailers that meet the applicable title requirements. Boats are not registered through the Treasurer’s vehicle service; boat registration is handled by the Recorder’s Office.
Vehicle title transfers may be completed in any Iowa county. The new owner must present the properly assigned title to a county treasurer within 30 days of the ownership transfer. A penalty is automatically applied if the title is not processed within 30 days.
Registration Renewals
Residents renewing a registration in person should bring the registration renewal notice or the old registration. If the owner is required to carry SR-22 insurance, an AAMVA document is required for the renewal.
Online renewal is identified by the Treasurer as the fastest and most convenient option. Registrations renewed online are mailed the next business day after payment is processed. A registration renewal should not be confused with obtaining plates for a newly purchased vehicle; newly purchased vehicles are handled through the title-transfer process.
Specialty and Personalized Plates
The Treasurer assists with delivery of personalized and specialty license plates offered by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Personalized plates can be ordered with a combination of seven letters and numbers.
For an office appointment involving plate pickup, the plate-pickup service should be selected for picking up specialty or personalized plates, exchanging plates, and similar plate-related transactions. A person who ordered personalized or specialty plates should schedule pickup only after receiving a letter stating that the plates are available.
If license plates are needed for a newly purchased vehicle, the correct appointment is Title Transfer rather than Plate Pick Up. People who recently moved into Iowa should also use the Title Transfer service and select the move-in option.
Appointments for Office Visits
The Treasurer recommends appointments for office visits because limited walk-in service is available. Some transactions require an appointment rather than merely recommending one. The county’s Treasurer appointment page provides the official appointment categories and scheduling instructions.
An appointment is required for several in-person transactions, including:
Vehicle title transfers for purchases.
Mobile home purchases using the property tax appointment option.
In-state title transfers.
New registrations after moving to Iowa.
Regular, homemade, and travel trailer transactions requiring the listed title service.
Lien releases.
Replacement title services.
Vehicle transfers following the death of a spouse.
If a person needs multiple services, a separate appointment must be made for each service. For example, a property tax transaction cannot be used to process a vehicle transaction during the same appointment category.
The appointment schedule is updated daily at 7 p.m. For title-service appointments, the customer must have the physical title paperwork available before making the appointment.
Arrival and Online Check-In
Customers with scheduled appointments can check in online using a phone. Online check-in is available from 15 minutes before until 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment time. Phone location services must be enabled for the check-in process.
After checking in online, the customer can skip the information booth and move to the seating area until the assigned number is called. People with appointments are served before people without appointments.
Vehicle Title Transfer Requirements
Vehicle title work is one of the Treasurer’s more document-sensitive services. The official title transfer instructions provide the forms, checklist, process requirements, and different procedures for vehicles and trailers.
Identity and Required Documents
Proof of identity is required. When completing a title transfer in person, a valid Iowa driver’s license is required for identification. The Treasurer’s instructions state that if a valid Iowa driver’s license is not available, a Social Security card must be presented. A military identification card cannot be substituted for this requirement.
For most vehicle title transfers, commonly used documents include:
Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration, Form 411007.
A properly assigned current title.
A bill of sale, including transfers in which the vehicle is given as a gift.
Motor Vehicle Damage Disclosure Statement, Form 411108, when applicable to the transaction.
The Treasurer advises applicants to review the required-document checklist because special circumstances may require additional information. Transfers after the death of an owner are one example of a situation that may require documents beyond the standard checklist.
Paperwork Must Remain Unaltered
Title transfer documents are legal documents and cannot be altered. Forms should be completed in blue or black ink, printed legibly, and completed with amounts and numbers that are accurate and consistent.
White-out, tape, and similar corrections should not be used. Written information should not be crossed out. Names should also remain consistent across all submitted documents, with legal names preferred.
These requirements matter because apparently minor inconsistencies can prevent the Treasurer from completing the title transaction. Reviewing each document before mailing it, depositing it in the drop box, or bringing it to an appointment can reduce processing delays.
Submitting Title Documents
Completed title-transfer documents can be sent by U.S. Postal Mail, placed in the Treasurer’s drop box, or completed in person with a required appointment. Customers who submit documents by mail or drop box can indicate that they want to be contacted to make payment by phone; transaction fees apply to phone payments.
Mail and drop-box title payments may also be submitted by check, cashier’s check, or money order. Cash and credit card payments are not accepted through those submission methods. In person, payment can be made by credit card, debit card, cash, check, or money order.
Title Fees and Trailer Rules
The title requirements vary based on the type and weight of the vehicle or trailer. Residents should identify the correct category before completing forms because a small trailer may require registration without a title, while a heavier trailer requires both.
Motor Vehicles
For the standard motor vehicle process described by the Treasurer, the applicant completes the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration, provides a bill of sale and current title, and pays a $35 one-time title fee. The annual registration fee depends on the vehicle’s year, make, and model.
Small Trailers
In Iowa, a small trailer weighing 2,000 pounds or less when empty requires registration but does not require a title. For a used small trailer, the process may require the application, bill of sale, and the previous owner’s registration signed over to the new owner. A current title may be used when the trailer comes from a state that issues titles for small trailers.
The annual registration fee stated by the Treasurer for a small trailer is $20. For a new small trailer, a manufacturer’s certificate of origin may also be required.
Large and Semi-Trailers
Regular and semi-trailers weighing more than 2,000 pounds when empty require a title and registration. For a used large trailer, the Treasurer lists an application, bill of sale, and properly assigned title among the required documents. The stated charges include a $35 one-time title fee and a $30 annual registration fee.
For a new large trailer, a manufacturer’s certificate of origin is required in place of a prior owner’s title.
Homemade and Recreational Trailers
A homemade trailer weighing 2,000 pounds or less follows the county treasurer application process. A homemade trailer weighing more than 2,000 pounds requires instructions from the Iowa Department of Transportation Investigation Bureau regarding an Iowa-assigned vehicle identification number.
Towable recreational vehicles, including travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and teardrop trailers, follow title and registration procedures based on whether the equipment is used or new. Used equipment requires a properly assigned title, while new equipment requires a manufacturer’s certificate of origin. The annual registration fee for towable recreational vehicles is based on model year and square footage.
Tracking a Title Application
Title applications submitted by mail, shipping service, or drop box are processed and returned through U.S. Mail. Residents can consult the title transfer application status page to see the receipt date currently being processed.
The referenced status information states that title transfer requests received by U.S. Mail, shipping services, or drop box by August 31, 2026, are being processed. Because that processing date changes as the office works through submissions, residents checking on a mailed or dropped-off application should rely on the current status displayed by the Treasurer rather than assuming that an older posted date still applies.
In-person title transfers are completed the same day when proper documentation is provided. An appointment is required for that in-person service. Incomplete documentation can cause delays regardless of how the application is submitted.
Annual Property Tax Sale
The County Treasurer conducts an annual tax sale as part of collecting delinquent property taxes. Parcels with delinquent taxes must be offered through an open competitive bidding process under Iowa Code Chapter 446. The tax sale takes place in June each year.
For 2026, the Treasurer announced that the Polk County property tax sale is scheduled for June 15, 2026, using an online bidding process, with June 11 identified as the last day to pay property tax before the sale.
Tax sale buyers can review the official tax sale buyer information for annual terms and conditions, previous sale information, and tax-sale buyer materials. The Treasurer’s information makes clear that previous-year sale materials are provided for reference and should not be treated as the current year’s terms.
Property owners dealing with tax sale redemption should use the property tax appointment category for an in-person visit. Tax sale buyers returning certificates are directed to use U.S. Postal Mail or the drop box.
Office Hours and Service Timing
Regular Treasurer office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office opens at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month rather than at its regular opening time.
The Treasurer’s hours of operation page also identifies major holiday closures and other changes to normal hours. The office is scheduled to be closed Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Appointments are required for some services and recommended for other office visits. Because business hours can vary by transaction type, residents planning an in-person visit should match their transaction with the appropriate service category instead of assuming every service is available through walk-in processing.
Wait Times for Walk-Ins
The Treasurer publishes estimated wait times for services including registration renewal walk-ins, property tax walk-ins, plate pickup, and dealer walk-ins. The estimates are based on the longest-waiting ticket holder for each service, so an individual customer’s actual wait may differ.
Wait-time information changes frequently and should be treated as an estimate rather than an appointment or guarantee. For transactions that can be completed online, the Treasurer encourages residents to pay online instead of waiting in line.
Common Transaction Mistakes
Several avoidable problems can slow a Treasurer transaction. One of the most common is choosing the wrong appointment category. Vehicle title work requires a title-service appointment, while property tax payments, tax sale redemptions, and certain mobile-home transactions use the property tax service. Multiple services require separate appointments.
Title-transfer applicants should also avoid arriving without the physical title paperwork. A title appointment requires the physical title documents, and a bill of sale is required for title transfers, including vehicles transferred as gifts.
Another mistake is scheduling a title-transfer appointment after the completed paperwork has already been mailed or placed in the drop box. The Treasurer specifically directs customers not to schedule an appointment for a title transfer or an Iowa move-in after the required paperwork has already been submitted to the office.
Residents should also avoid altering title documents after making an error. Crossing out information, using white-out, or covering entries with tape can make the documents unacceptable. Names, numbers, amounts, and other information should be reviewed before submission so all documents are consistent.
Payment method is another area where errors occur. Cash and credit card payments cannot be included with mail or drop-box transactions. Mail and drop-box payments are limited to check, cashier’s check, or money order unless the customer requests contact to make a permitted payment by phone.
Finally, vehicle owners should distinguish registration renewal from title transfer. Renewing an existing registration is a different service from titling a newly purchased vehicle, moving into Iowa with a vehicle, releasing a lien, or replacing a title. Selecting the transaction that matches the actual vehicle situation reduces the chance of arriving with the wrong documents or appointment.
Treasurer Offices
Polk County Treasurer’s Office
Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue, Room 154
Des Moines, IA 50309
Vehicle: 515-286-3030
Property Tax: 515-286-3060
Vehicle Division
Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue, Room 154
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-286-3030
Property Tax Division
Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue, Room 154
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-286-3060
County Treasurer FAQs
Can I estimate vehicle title and registration fees before submitting paperwork?
Yes. Polk County directs vehicle owners to the Iowa Department of Transportation Fee Estimator when they want an estimate before completing a title transaction. The estimator can account for registration and title fees, security-interest recording fees, the vehicle purchase price, and eligible credit from a vehicle that was sold, traded, or junked. The estimator is intended for desktop use and is not mobile responsive. Remember that postage is not included in the calculated total, so mailed transactions may require an additional amount for postage. See the county’s vehicle title transfer instructions before calculating or submitting payment.
Why won’t a vehicle transfer form work properly in my browser?
For online vehicle-transfer forms, Polk County instructs users to download the form and save it to their own computer before completing it. Filling out a form only inside the browser may not preserve the information correctly. After saving the file, review every required field and make sure the information matches the supporting title and sale documents before printing or submitting it.
Where can I park when visiting the Treasurer’s Office?
Paid parking is available in the lot immediately south of the Polk County Administration Building. Cash is not accepted for that parking lot. Metered street parking is also available near the building. Anyone planning an office visit should review the official hours and visitor information before traveling downtown, especially when arranging a transaction that may take longer than a routine walk-in service.
How are Treasurer walk-in wait times calculated?
The county’s published wait time is based on the longest-waiting ticket holder within each listed service category. It is an estimate rather than a prediction of how long every visitor will wait. Different services can have substantially different queues at the same time, so checking the current Treasurer wait times shortly before leaving can help with planning an office visit.