Tax Bill FAQs

Your property tax is due on or before December 20. If you choose to pay in two payments, the first half is due on December 20 with the second half due on or before June 20. Subsequent billings may also be mailed in the event of a correction of, or late addition to the tax roll. If a home or building is completed midyear or a personal property declaration is not received when due, a subsequent billing may result. Sub-roll billings on new construction, late additions and corrections to the roll are due on February 28.

A late charge equal to 2% of any unpaid portion of the first half of the tax is added on December 21. Interest accrues daily, at 1% per month, beginning January 1, on any delinquent tax. When any portion of a manufactured home or personal property tax becomes delinquent, a Warrant of Distraint is issued to the County Sheriff for collection. Full payment of all tax, late charge, warrant fees and interest is required to release the warrant.

The Tax Summary on your bill lists all districts receiving revenue from your property taxes. If you have questions regarding the services they provide, you can contact them directly.

Property tax relief is available through the Homeowner’s exemption, State Circuit Breaker Program and the Hardship exemption. You must apply for the Homeowners Exemption and/or Circuit Breaker benefits with the Assessor’s office.

Pay by Mail: Be sure your envelope is postmarked on or before the due date. If mailing close to the deadline, we suggest that you have your envelope postmarked at the postal counter rather than dropping it in the box, to be sure it is properly dated. Only payments with a postmark on or before the due date will be accepted as current. Please send the bottom portion of your bill with your payment to help us process your taxes efficiently. Pay in Person: Treasurer’s Office, Elmore County Courthouse, 150 South 4th East, Suite #4, first floor. Office hours are 9-5 Monday through Friday. We accept checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, credit/debit cards and cash.

If you pay half of your tax by December 20, a second half reminder notice will be mailed in May. Failure to receive a bill does not excuse the taxpayer from paying taxes, late charge & interest accrued, if any.

The property type and parcel number are identified on the top right side of the bill. Delinquent tax years, if any, will be shown below the property type in the center of the bill. If prior year taxes are owing, the delinquent year is shown on the bill. Since the amount due on the tax bill reflects only the current year tax amount, please call our office for payoff amounts on prior year taxes, late charge and interest. All payments must be applied first to the most delinquent tax amount. The Tax Summary gives a listing of Taxing Districts receiving revenue from your payment, including the district name, levy and tax amount billed. Idaho Code provides for the collection of unpaid balances owed to certain agencies, through certification of the balance due to the property tax roll. If you have questions regarding certifications or special assessments listed on your bill, call the taxing district directly. On the right side of your bill the total current year assessed value is shown along with the amount of your homeowner’s exemption, if applicable. We multiply the total levy times the total taxable value, then add any certifications or special assessments to arrive at the TOTAL TAXES BILLED. We then deduct tax credits, prepayments, circuit breaker or hardship exemptions to determine the TOTAL TAXES DUE. The back of the tax bill includes detailed information about the laws regarding payment of taxes and delinquent taxes.

If your new home was completed midyear and assessed after April of the current year, you may receive a “Subsequent/Occupancy” bill in January (due February 28) in addition to the “Real Property” billing you receive in November. When the home is completed and occupied, the added value is assessed and prorated with taxes billed on the “Subsequent/Occupancy” form. Subsequent bills are late entries to the tax roll, and will not be coded to be sent directly to your mortgage company. If your mortgage company will be paying the bill, please forward it to them immediately. If you own a business, you will receive a real property tax bill for the land and buildings and may also receive a personal property tax bill covering furniture, fixtures and equipment used in doing business. If you own a manufactured home and the land it sits on, you will receive separate bills for the home and the land.

We accept payments toward real property and delinquent taxes and payments are applied to tax, costs, interest and late charge accordingly to the total amount due. Partial payments of at least $25 can be applied toward current year or future taxes on both real and personal property. You will receive a bill for any remaining balance which may be paid according to the standard schedules and regulations for property tax collection. Once any part of a personal property tax becomes delinquent, the unpaid portion of the entire tax shall immediately become due and payable.

Be aware of the important dates and deadlines for payments, applications for property tax relief and assessment appeals. It is particularly important that you be aware of your property tax due dates. Tax bills are mailed on each parcel, however, failure to receive a tax bill does not excuse the taxpayer from paying the taxes, late charges and interest accrued, if any. Be sure to notify the Assessor’s Office whenever your mailing address changes. When mailing your tax payment, be sure the envelope is U. S. postmarked on or before the due date. Proof of payment of property taxes is the responsibility of the taxpayer [I.C. 63-1306(2)]. Be sure to keep accurate records, receipts and cancelled checks documenting your payment.

Each year, just prior to billing, we request the mortgage companies provide us new listings of the parcels they will pay. Each parcel listed on their update is computer coded so the original billing is sent to the mortgage company. A Copy of your tax bill is mailed to the tax payer for your information.

Assessment notices are issued to inform you of the value of the property and/or improvements. Pay close attention to the assessment notice, as the value listed will be used in calculating your tax bill in November. Instructions for appeal of the value are on the back of the assessment notice. Appeals must be made immediately upon receipt of the assessment notice.

Please visit the Assessor’s page for more information about tax reductions.