The Lake County Treasurer’s Office seeks to provide taxpayers with the best possible services to the meet continued and growing needs of Lake County.
The Office is best known by the public for issuing motor vehicle licenses and collecting property taxes. Property taxes account for the majority of the revenue in the county budget. The Treasurer is not only responsible for collecting property taxes for the county, but the city and school districts as well.
Motor vehicle fees and wheel taxes are also collected at the County Treasurer’s office. Motor vehicle collections are divided between the county, cities, townships, and the state of South Dakota.
The Treasurer’s office is also solely responsible and accountable for revenue collected by all other county offices. These funds are deposited with the County Treasurer’s Office and they are appropriated to the correct revenue account.
In addition to collecting taxes and other forms of revenue, the Treasurer assists senior and disabled citizen file applications for property tax relief and sales tax reductions. In conjunction with the State Departments of Revenue and Labor, the Treasurer issues distress warrants to the Sheriff in the event of non-payment of state sales taxes or unemployment insurance.
First half property taxes are due April 30, second half are due October 31. Please bring your tax notices with you.
Tax payments may be sent to our office at 200 East Center St., Madison, SD 57042 and MUST be postmarked by April 30, and October 31 respectively. Please send your tax stubs to ensure proper credit to the correct parcels of land.
Please click here for information about the new Dignity License plate.
Registration on commercial, non-commercial, trailers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats are done on a staggered licensing system based on the first letter of the owner's last name or in the case of a business on the beginning letter of the business' name. Licenses are renewable up to 90 days before end of assigned month. Please bring renewal postcard, registration, or title for each vehicle you wish to license.Renewal months are as follows:
When registering a vehicle you have recently purchased, please bring the SD drivers license or social security number of all individuals to be placed on the title.
The current law requires you to remove your license plates when trading or selling a motor vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, or commercially licensed vehicle, and transferring those plates to a NEWLY ACQUIRED vehicle. HOWEVER, your plate SHOULD NOT be put on your new vehicle until you transfer your title and pay any appropriate fees to your county treasurer's office.
If you sell a vehicle to another individual, business, company, etc., you will remove the plates and provide the new buyer with a seller's permit. This permit allows the new buyer to drive that vehicle for 45 days. These permits can be obtained free of charge from the treasurer's office or printed off the website, www.SDcars.org and can be obtained when you know you are selling the vehicle.
Titles with open liens cannot be transferred or duplicate titles applied for. Liens are indicated on the front lower portion of the title and can be released at the Treasurer's office with the proper documentation.
Cash Personal Checks (See exceptions below.)+ Cashier's Checks Money Orders Credit/Debit cards (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover)++ + No two-party checks, no counter/starter checks without pre-printed name and address, no out-of-state checks, and no checks with a personal mail box (PMB) will be accepted. ++Card processing fees are variable and will be added to your transaction.
Address: Lake County Treasurer 200 E Center St Madison SD 57042
Phone: 605-256-7618 Fax: 605-256-7624
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday (excluding Holidays)