Polk County Property Tax
The Polk County property tax rate is 1.56%, making property taxes in this county lower than the state average.
Written by Katherine Duffy
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The average property tax rate in Polk County, Wisconsin, is 1.56%, so Polk County residents pay an average of $2,649 in property taxes annually.
Paying your annual property tax bill is a routine financial responsibility that comes with the luxury of owning a home in the US. While every homeowner across the country must pay property taxes each year, different tax rates and payment processes from county to county can make it difficult to determine how much you’ll owe and how to pay.
That’s why
home and car insurance
comparison and shopping app Jerry
has created a complete guide on everything you need to know about paying your property taxes in Polk County, Wisconsin
. You’ll learn what Polk County uses your property taxes for, when your taxes are due, and how to pay them. Property tax 101
Here's a brief overview of what you need to know about paying property taxes:
- You’ll pay property taxes on real property you own such as your private home, retail shops, office buildings, vacant land, etc.
- Your county’s tax assessor decides on your specific property tax rate based on your property’s market value and your local tax rate
- Property taxes aren’t fixed, which means these taxes change depending on market conditions and your county’s local budgets
What is the property tax rate in Polk County?
Polk County’s average tax rate is 1.56% of a property’s assessed market value, which is below Wisconsin’s average property tax rate of 1.76%. You can expect to pay around $2,649 in property taxes per year based on the Polk County average.
How Polk County property taxes are determined
In Polk County, property taxes apply to most real estate within the county’s taxing districts. These districts operate at the county, school district, and city levels.
Polk County’s local district boards assess public service costs and determine a budget for the following year. After that, each county district levies property taxes to cover its budget. Then, the
Polk County Treasurer
sets a property tax rate for each district to fulfill the levies. Your municipal assessor appraised the worth of your property based on its current market value and your home’s unique assets once tax rates are established. Based on Polk County’s average property tax rate, your property’s taxable value should be around 1.56% of the assessor’s valuation.
You can appeal your property’s assessed value if you don’t agree with it. The first step is to contact your community’s
Board of Review (BOR)
to initiate your appeal request. The state of Wisconsin has provided a detailed guide
on how to appeal your property assessment depending on what kind of community you live in. Polk County offers several tax exemptions to its homeowners, such as the
Buyer Lottery and Gaming Credit
and the Managed Forest Law Property list. Visit the Polk County government website
to learn more about eligibility and how to apply. What do Polk County property taxes pay for?
Polk County property taxes are used by the county’s taxing districts to pay for important public services that benefit the community. Depending on where you live in Polk County, here are a few different services your property taxes help fund:
- Road infrastructure
- Police and fire departments
- Public safety
- Zoning and building safety
- Public libraries and community centers
- Primary and secondary school
- Waste and recycling management
- Public housing
- Greenspace conservation and maintenance
The Wisconsin state government has published a comprehensive guide on paying property taxes, including what kinds of services your property taxes pay for. You can learn more about these services in their
2022 Guide for Property Owners
.How to pay property taxes in Polk County
Polk County property taxes are paid in two installments. The first installment is due on January 31, and the second installment is due on July 31. Taxes become delinquent if you miss either payment due date by five days, which means you’ll have to pay an accumulating interest rate of 1% per month.
There are two convenient ways to pay your property taxes in Polk County:
- Online: Pay your taxes online via Polk County’sonline payment portal. You can use a debit card, credit card, or e-check to make your payment. There’s a convenience fee of 2.39% for credit card and debit card payments and $1.50 for e-check payments.
- In person:Pay your taxes by debit, credit, or check by visiting the Treasurer’s office at this address: Polk County Government Center, 100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 150 Balsam Lake, WI 54810.
How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in Wisconsin
A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
“Just for state minimum liability, I was getting quotes from $70 to over $100/month until I foundJerry. Now my car insurance is under $30/month, or $140 for 6 months. Thank you, Jerry!” —Frank S.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
When do my taxes become delinquent in Polk County?
If you fail to pay either property tax installment five days after the due date, your property taxes will become delinquent, and you’ll have to pay an interest rate of 1% each month on the unpaid amount.
Why is my property tax higher than my neighbor’s?
Your property tax rate is determined by assessing your property’s value and which taxing districts apply to your property. If your neighbor’s taxes are different from yours, the value of your property is likely different, and your home may fall within certain tax districts that your neighbor’s home doesn’t.
Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance
Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!
4.7You might also be interested
