Paying Property Taxes
Payment Schedule
Your tax bill provides information on where and when your taxes are to be paid.
Examine your tax notice carefully. The Treasurer is not responsible for payments sent for the wrong property.
Property owners who have an escrow account with the mortgage company holding the lien on their property will still receive the tax notice, but it is up to the owner to confirm with the mortgage company how and when the property taxes will be paid.
If total taxes due per parcel is greater than $100, you have the option to pay the first installment of the annual taxes on January 31, and then pay the balance by July 31.
If your total tax due per parcel is greater than $100, and you choose to pay the entire amount, your due date is January 31.
If total taxes due per parcel is $100 or less, the full amount is due by January 31 (s74.11(7) or 74.12 & 74.5 Wis. Stats.)
Real Estate Payment Dates for Current Year Taxes
All of Rock County (except City of Beloit)
1st Payment or Payment in Full
Due January 31 - Pay to County or Local Treasurer - See Where to Pay Taxes below
2nd Payment
Due July 31 - Pay to County Treasurer only
City of Beloit Only
City of Beloit property owners have the option to pay in 4 installments
All City of Beloit payments are paid directly to the County Treasurer
Payment Due Dates
Installment 1: January 31
Installment 2: March 31
Installment 3: May 31
Installment 4: July 31
Personal Property Payment Dates for Current Year Taxes
All personal property taxes, except improvements on leased land, are due in full by January 31
Failure to Pay On Time
If you choose to pay your real estate taxes in installments, then you must pay each installment timely or the TOTAL amount of your remaining unpaid taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes (if any) will be delinquent (s 74.11(7) or 74.12 & 74.85, Wis. Stats.) All delinquent taxes are subject to interest of 1.5% per month (fraction of a month counts as a whole month) from February 1 until paid.
Taxes that are considered delinquent on February 1st will begin accruing interest at the rate of 18% per annum pro-rated at 1.5% per month as of the first day of each month thereafter. Taxes that are considered delinquent on August 1st begin accruing interest at the rate of 18% per annum pro-rated at 1.5% per month as of the first day of each month (fraction of a month counts as a whole month) from February 1 until paid. (s74.11(7) or 74.12 & 74.5 Wis. Stats.)
Where to Pay
December & January
When paying current year taxes (real estate or personal property) in December & January, please refer to the information below to find the address where your taxes are to be paid.
During December & January only, if your taxes are collected by a Local Municipal Treasurer as shown below, you cannot pay your taxes to the County Treasurer. You must submit your payment to the Local Municipal Treasurer.
If your taxes are not collected via the Local Municipal Treasurer, taxes must be paid directly to the County Treasurer.
Your tax bill provides information on where to pay your taxes.
If your municipality/district code (first 3 digits of tax id#) is found in the following list, send payments to the address below it.
Town of Avon / District Code 002
Debra J Niedermeier, 16247 W. State Rd. 81, Brodhead, WI 53520
Town of Bradford / District Code 006
Jill Bier, 2136 S Trescher Road, Avalon, WI 53505
Town of Janesville / District Code 016
Peggy Augustine, 1628 N. Little Ct., Janesville, WI 53548
Town of Magnolia / District Code 024
Graceann Toberman, 13343 W. County Rd. B, Brodhead, WI 53520
Town of Newark / District Code 028
Jacki Olson, 10127 S. Olson Rd., Beloit, WI 53511
Town of Rock / District Code 034
Deborah Bennett, 5814 S. Duggan Rd., Beloit, WI 53511
If your municipality/district code is NOT listed above, send the first payment to:
Rock County Treasurer
51 South Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
After January 31
The County Treasurer collects all Rock County real estate taxes for all municipalities. Do NOT send real estate taxes to a Local Municipal Treasurer after January 31.
The County does NOT collect any delinquent or postponed personal property taxes after January 31.
Payment Options
Paying by Mail
- Include the Tax ID Number.
- If paying more than one parcel with one check, list the Tax ID numbers and amounts for each parcel.
- If you would like a receipt, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Paying In Person
- Bring your tax bill(s) with you.
The Treasurer's Office accepts tax payments via cashier's check, personal check, money order or cash.
- Do NOT send cash in the mail. Cash is only accepted in person.
- All payments must be made in United States Funds only.
- If payment is made by check, the tax receipt is not valid until the check has cleared all banks.
- Make checks or money orders payable to: Rock County Treasurer
Credit Cards & Electronic Checks
If Rock County collects your first installment, or if you are paying real estate taxes after January 31, you may pay by credit card or electronic check using the GovTech Services Inc website.
If you are one of the six municipalities that does not send your first installment payment to Rock County, you CANNOT use the GovTech website for first installment payments.
Credit Card Payments**- Call 1-855-912-ROCK or 1-855-912-7625
or - Visit the GovTech Services Inc website
- You will need the Tax ID number located in the upper right hand corner or your tax bill.
- The fee to use the credit card payment option is 2.20% of the total tax amount paid.
- Allow 5-10 business days for a credit card payment to be received by the Treasurer's Office.
E-Checks (electronic check)**
- Visit the GovTech Services Inc website
- You will need the Tax ID number located in the upper right hand corner of your tax bill.
- The fee to use the E-Check option is $1.50 per check. Multiple parcels may be paid with one E-Check.
- Allow 5-10 business days for an electronic check payment to be received by the Treasurer's Office.
**If you are one of the six municipalities that does not send your first installment payment to Rock County, you CANNOT use the GovTech website for first installment payments.
Payment Correction Policy
REQUEST FOR ERRONEOUS PAYMENT CORRECTION POLICY
This policy replaces the Financial Institute Error Correction Charge Policy approved by the Rock County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee on June 1, 2000.
On occasion a financial institution, mortgage company, tax service, municipality or individual informs the county treasurer that their payment was applied to the wrong real estate tax parcel due to incorrect information they provided with payment. The policy for requests for payment corrections due to errors in information provided will be as follows.
- At no time will a request for a refund of payment be granted.
- At no time will a request from an individual to remove payment from one parcel and reapply the payment to another parcel be granted.
- Requests for payment corrections must be in writing from the original payor, must include the tax parcel number and amount that was applied incorrectly as well as the correct tax parcel number where the payment is to be moved/applied.
- The requester must notify the taxpayers involved explaining the payment error and how it is to be corrected. Copies of the notification must be included with the request for payment correction.
- Requests for payment corrections must be for payments made in the current tax year only. Requests for corrections will not be granted after August 31.
- Financial institutions, mortgage companies and tax services must submit $50.00 for each parcel to be corrected prior to the correction being made.
- Corrections will be applied with the date of original payment.
- Any refunds generated by corrections will be made payable to original payor.
- Financial institutions, mortgage companies, tax services and municipalities may be responsible for accrued interest and penalty.
Approved by Finance Committee on September 15, 2005
Interest/Penalty Appeal
Wisconsin Statute 74.69 and Rock County Board of Supervisors Resolution 90-1A-145
Payment is timely if it is
- mailed in a properly addressed envelope with postage prepaid.
- postmarked before midnight of the last day prescribed for making the payment.
- is received by the proper official no more than 5 days after the prescribed date for making payment.
Written request for appeal must be filed
- in writing with the county treasurer.
- within 10 days of full payment of interest and penalty, but not later than December 1 of the year the tax was due.
- stating the sole reason the payment was not timely was a delay or administrative error by the postal service.
The Rock County Deputy Corporation Counsel shall act on the request within 30 days after receipt of the request by the treasurer. The Deputy Corporation Counsel shall deem a late-postmarked payment timely only if the postal service indicates in writing that the particular piece of mail should have been postmarked timely.
Assistance Programs
Income Tax Credits
Wisconsin Department of Revenue; Box 8949; Madison WI 53708-8949
- Homestead Credit (email: [email protected])
- Farmland Tax Relief Credit (email: [email protected])
- School Property Tax Credit (email: [email protected])
DATCP Credit
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; Box 8911; Madison WI 53708-8911
- Farmland Preservation Credit
Loan Assistance
WHEDA; 1-800-755-7835; Box 1728, Madison WI 53701-1728
- Property Tax Deferral Loans for the Elderly
Property Tax Credits
Email: [email protected] – Wisconsin Department of Revenue 6-97; Box 8971; Madison WI 53708-8971
- Lottery and Gaming Credit
- First Dollar Credit
- School Levy Tax Credit
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change a name on my property tax bill?
Record a deed in the Register of Deed's Office. Our records reflect the most recently recorded document.
Who do I notify if my address changes?
Address changes for the cities of Beloit and Janesville may be sent to the Treasurer's Office. Address changes for the other 27 municipalities are sent to Real Property. Email Real Property.
Please include your tax ID number listed on your tax notice and/or valuation notice.
May I pay my property taxes with my credit card?
Charging your property taxes is an electronic option for payment of property taxes if Rock County collects your first installment or if you are paying real estate taxes after January 31. However, you may not pay by credit card in the Treasurer's Office.
Please visit the Property Tax Payment Options tab for details.
If I don't receive my tax notice, what should I do?
Real property tax notices and personal property tax notices are mailed in December of each year. If you do not receive the notice by the 27th of December, please contact our office or your local treasurer. If you own property in Wisconsin, you are responsible for the property taxes whether you receive a bill or not.
If I think my taxes are too high, what should I do?
When you receive the valuation notice from the Assessor's office, you should follow the instructions provided on the notice to protest the value placed on your property if you feel the value is incorrect. Property taxes are calculated by using the assessed value of your property. You should also attend the budget meetings of the taxing jurisdictions whose tax levies appear on your tax bill. This includes your school district, technical college, Rock County, your city, town or village and any other district that may appear on your bill.
Property Assessment Appeal Guide for Wisconsin Real Property Owners
If I wish to mail my payment, how can I be sure that it gets in on time?
Our office honors United States Postal Service postmarks, not metered marks. If your payment is postmarked on or before the due date, it will be accepted without penalty. If you mail on the last day the tax is due - please have the Post Office hand cancel your envelope.
What are the Treasurer's office hours?
The Treasurer's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and County holidays.
Why did I get a tax notice when my mortgage company should pay the taxes?
All tax notices are sent to the property owner. If your mortgage company is to pay the taxes, you should forward a copy of the tax notice to your mortgage company.
Can I tell the mortgage company when I want my taxes paid?
Yes. Contact your mortgage company and ask for the "Tax Escrow Option Notice". This form instructs your lender to pay your taxes in the year of the tax (by Dec 31) OR in full on Jan 31 OR by prescribed installment dates.
What should I send with my check when paying my taxes?
Always include the number (tax ID number) printed on the upper right hand corner of your tax notice. Send a copy of your tax notice or put the tax ID number on the memo line of your check. If paying more than one parcel with one check please list the tax ID numbers and amounts for each parcel. If you are requesting a receipt, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
My escrow check is for more than the amount of my tax bill. What happens to the overpayment?
If your escrow company sends the payment to us, the overpayment goes back to your escrow company. If you pay the taxes in person or if you mail us the escrow check, the overpayment is given or sent to you. If a refund is over $500, the refund is held for ten business days to allow for the deposited check to clear the bank. Refunds will not be issued on a personal check.