Codington County Property Taxes Due April 30: Treasurer Warns of USPS Postmark Changes

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County Treasurer Carol Maloney has released a Public Service Announcement reminding property owners that the deadline to pay the first half of 2025 real estate and mobile home taxes is Thursday, April 30, 2026. Payments must be received or postmarked by this date to avoid a 10% interest penalty.

New USPS Processing Regulations

Treasurer Maloney is highlighting a critical change in how the United States Postal Service (USPS) handles mail that could impact taxpayers. Under new regulations, postmarks now reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated sorting machine, rather than the day it is dropped in a mailbox.

This shift means a payment dropped off by the deadline might not receive a postmark for several days, resulting in delinquent status. According to South Dakota law (SDCL 10-21-23), tax payments must either be received in the office by the last working day of the month or bear a postmark dated on or before the deadline to be considered timely.

Avoiding Delinquency and Interest

To ensure payments are processed on time, the Treasurer’s office offers the following advice:

·        Mail Early: Residents are encouraged to mail critical documents several days before the April 30 deadline.

·        Hand Canceling: If mailing close to the deadline, property owners should request to have their mail “hand canceled” at a local post office to ensure a valid, immediate postmark.

·        Pay Online: Online payments can be made via the Treasurer’s page at www.codington.org.

·        Pay In-Person: Payments are accepted at the county treasurer’s office, located on the first floor of the courthouse, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Key Tax Information and Deadlines

·        First Half Deadline: April 30, 2026.

·        Full Payment Requirement: All real property taxes totaling $50.00 or less must be paid in full by April 30.

·        Second Half Deadline: Unpaid second-half taxes become delinquent on November 1, 2026, if not paid or postmarked by October 31.

·        Delinquency Interest: A 10% interest rate (Category G) is added to all delinquent taxes starting May 1, and on the first day of each subsequent month.

·        Receipts: To receive a receipt, taxpayers must enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with their payment.

Online Payment Fees

The service provider will charge property owners using the online portal a convenience fee:

·        E-check: $2.00 per payment.

·        Credit/Debit Card: 3% of the total payment.

For questions regarding property taxes or payment methods, please contact the Codington County Treasurer’s office at 605-882-6285.