Codington County Treasurer Warns Watertown Property Owners of Tax Payment Postmark Delays

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County Treasurer Carol Maloney urges property owners to plan ahead when submitting their October tax payments, citing new U.S. Postal Service processing rules that may delay postmarks and make on‑time payments appear late.

The second‑half 2025 real estate and mobile home taxes, payable in 2026, must be paid by Oct. 31 to avoid a penalty. Because Oct. 31 falls on a weekend, the Treasurer’s Office must receive payments by Friday, Oct. 30, or they must carry a valid Oct. 31 postmark.

Maloney said recent USPS changes mean envelopes may not be postmarked on the day they are dropped off. According to the USPS guidance provided to counties,

“the postmark reflecting the date an envelope is first processed by an automated sorting machine, potentially days after it has been dropped off.”

She added that this shift could classify timely‑mailed tax payments as late.

“If the payment isn’t received in the Treasurer’s Office by Friday, October 30TH, it has to have a valid postmark to be considered timely,” the PSA states.

State Law Requirements

South Dakota Codified Law 10‑21‑23 outlines delinquency rules for real property taxes. The statute states:

“If the other half is not paid on or before October thirty-first of the same year, that amount also becomes delinquent on November first… The tax payment shall either be received in the office on the last working day or the tax payment shall be postmarked by the last day before the taxes become delinquent.”

Interest at 10 percent will be added to all delinquent taxes, and no grace period applies because the month ends on a weekend.

Payment Options

Property owners may:

·         Deposit payments in the green drop box on the south side of the courthouse, available 24 hours a day.

·         Pay in person at the Treasurer’s Office, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

·         Mail payments, ensuring they are postmarked no later than Oct. 31.

·         Pay online through the Treasurer’s webpage at Codington.sdcounty.gov/treasurer or directly via GovTechTaxPro. Online payments include a $2 e‑check fee or a 3 percent credit/debit card fee.

Residents concerned about postmark delays may request hand cancellation at the local post office to ensure the envelope receives a valid date stamp. The Treasurer's Office will return receipts if you include a stamped, self‑addressed envelope.

Maloney encouraged taxpayers to mail payments early to avoid issues created by USPS processing changes.

You may direct questions to the Treasurer’s Office at 605‑882‑6285.