Treasurer Frequently Asked Questions

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 filed immediately upon receipt of the assessment notice. The appeal period closes after the 4th Monday in June of each year, you may contact the Assessor at 208-265-1440 to discuss your property value for the upcoming year.

Property tax statements are mailed to all property owners. It is your right to know what your property tax amount is each year. If a mortgage company has requested your bill, you will see a bolded message “This bill was sent to a mortgage company at their request.” The mortgage company requesting the bill is listed in the upper right-hand portion of the bill. Be sure to verify that this is your mortgage company. If not, please send a copy of the bill to your correct mortgage company. 

Just prior to our billing, the mortgage companies notify us of the tax parcels they expect to pay. The Treasurer’s Office receives an electronic file that automatically downloads a computer code to each parcel for which billing is requested. The mortgage company receives an electronic billing for each of their coded accounts and the property owner is sent a copy. Please verify that the mortgage company requesting your bill is the company that currently services your mortgage. If the mortgage company payment is not mailed prior to the due date, late charge and interest will be added. Post mark rules apply to mortgage companies also.

A late charge equal to 2% of any unpaid portion of the first half is added after the due date. Interest accrues daily at 1% per month beginning January 1st of the year following the December 20th first half due date. 

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.

If you don’t have access to your payment coupon, you may simply write your parcel number on your check.

For a list of accepted methods of payment, please visit our How to Pay Taxes link located on the left hand side of our website.

Property tax bills are sent to the owner on record. 

Please reference your closing documents to determine what was agreed to in regard to property taxes. Oftentimes, the seller will allow a credit at closing for the anticipated tax amount. If you cannot find this information in your closing documents or have further questions, please contact your title company as they may be able to assist you.

Postmarks are imprints on letters, flats, and parcels that show the name of the United States Postal Service (USPS) office that accepted custody of the mail, along with the state, the zip code, and the date of mailing. The postmark is generally applied, either by machine or by hand, with cancellation bars to indicate that the postage cannot be reused.

Taxpayers who send their payments by mail are cautioned that the USPS only postmarks certain mail depending on the type of postage used and may not postmark mail on the same day deposited by a taxpayer.

ACCEPTABLE POSTAGE – Postmarked
• STANDARD POSTAGE STAMPS: Stamps purchased and affixed to mail as evidence of the payment of postage.

NON-ACCEPTABLE POSTAGE- Not Postmarked
• Metered mail: Mail on which postage is printed directly on an envelope or label by a postage machine licensed by the USPS. Many private companies use these types of postage machines.
• Pre-canceled stamp: Stamps sold through a private vendor, such as stamps.com®.
• Automated Postal Center (APC) stamps: Stamps, with or without a date, purchased from machines located within a USPS lobby.
• Permit Imprint: Pre-sorted mail used by bill pay services, such as online home banking

Property tax payments must be received or postmarked by the due date to avoid penalties.

**To avoid delays, please mail early. Mail delivered to the post office on the due date may not be postmarked until the following day. Request the post office to hand stamp a postmark on your envelope to ensure a timely postmark. 

If payment is returned, you may be assessed a $20 service fee.

Please contact your bank to stop payment on a check. If your payment is returned, you may be assessed a $20 service fee.

Bonner County charges property taxes in arrears. For example, when you receive a tax bill in November the taxes owing are for that current year.

DUE DATE
• OPTION #1: Pay the whole amount by Dec 20th
• OPTION #2: Pay the first half on Dec 20th and second half on June 20th without penalties and interests.
Tax payments are governed by title 67 Idaho Code. Property taxes are due no later than December 20th; however, you may pay ½ of the total taxes’ due no later than December 20th; and use a grace period to pay the second ½ no later than June 20th of the next year. If the first ½ payment is not received by December 20th, your property tax bill is considered delinquent.

DELINQUENT PROPERTY
Partial payments toward real property delinquent taxes are accepted (any amount, any time) and are applied to tax, costs, interest and late charge in the proportion each bear to the total amount due.

PAYING FOR FUTURE TAXES
Partial payments of at least $25 can be applied toward current year or future taxes on all property types. Any remaining balance may be paid according to the standard schedules and regulations for property tax collection.

BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY OR MANUFACTURED HOMES
Once any part of a personal property or manufactured home tax becomes delinquent, the unpaid portion of the entire tax shall immediately become due and payable.