Treasurer Wall Art 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.

Property Tax Information:

First half property taxes are due April 30, second half are due October 31. Please bring your tax notices with you. Tax payments must be made for the exact amount only.

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 note: Payments received or postmarked after April 30 or October 31, respectively, will reflect a late fee and interest. Call the Treasurer's Office for an updated amount.

The Treasurer's Office also offers a drop box for property tax payments ONLY located between the double doors of the north entrance to the courthouse. Payments must include the payment coupon or parcel number with each payment and be in the exact amount only (all others will be returned). If you would like a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payments dropped off after 4:30 p.m., M-F will be credited the following business day.

Search Property Tax Values in Lake County:

Motor Vehicle Information:

Please click here for information about the new Dignity License plate.

  • SD License Renewal Schedule

    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:

    • January: A, B
    • February: C, D, E
    • March: F, G, J
    • May: H, I, O
    • June: K, L
    • July: M, N
    • August: P, Q, R
    • September: S
    • November: T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

  • Registering a Recently Purchased Vehicle

    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. A bill of sale is also required for all private party purchases.

    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.

  • Selling a Vehicle

    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.

  • Title Transfers

    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.

  • Acceptable Payment Methods - Effective 9/1/17

    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.

Staff

Debra Walburg

Treasurer Send an Email

Erin Reinicke

Deputy Treasurer Send an Email

Betty Wise

Deputy Treasurer Send an Email

Contact Information

Main Office

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)

Announcements

County Offices Closed
Monday, May 18, 2020

County offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2020, in observance of Memorial Day.
Primary Election Notices
Friday, May 15, 2020

Click here to view the Notice of Primary Election, Notice of Testing Automatic Tabulating Equipment, and Instructions to the Voters.
Sample Ballots
Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Sample ballots are available for the June 2nd Municipal Election, School Board Election, and Primary Election.
Municipal Election and School Board Election Sample Ballots
Primary Election Sample Ballots
County Response to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency - Updated 5/5/2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Commission has updated its plan for continuity of county operations in response to the COVID-19. Please review the release for specific details: 5-5-2020 Release.
May - License Plate Renewal H/I/O
Friday, May 1, 2020

Vehicle License plate renewal for vehicle owners with the FIRST letter in their LAST NAME that begins with H or I or O.
Absentee Ballot Application (Photo ID)
Monday, April 27, 2020

State law requires completed absentee ballot applications to be notarized or include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID card. Voters may take a photo of their ID (driver's license or non-driver ID card, tribal photo ID, passport, or other picture lD issued by the US government, or a current student photo lD issued by a SD high school or postsecondary education institution) and email it to the Auditor at: lakeauditor@lake.sd.gov
Auditor's Press Release - 4/27/2020
Monday, April 27, 2020

Auditor Roberta "Bobbi" Janke has issued a press release related to the Primary Election. To view the press release, please click here.
Resolution 2020-06 Designating Polling Places and Secretary of State Press Release Dated 4/10/2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020

On 4/14/2020, the Lake County Commission passed Resolution 2020-06 Designating Polling Places for the June 2, 2020 Primary Election. The Secretary of State also issued a press release on 4/10/2020 advising his office will mail absentee ballots to all South Dakotans registered in the statewide voter registration file. Click here to view both the resolution and the press release.

Lake County © 2020. Developed by Intuvio Solutions.

Stay Connected: