Website Frequently Asked Questions | Iowa Tax And Tags (2024)

Common Website Questions:

1. Is there a fee to pay vehicle renewal or property taxes online?
2. Why is paying by Debit or Credit more expensive than paying by eCheck?
3. What is an eCheck?
4. Why is the convenience fee for Debit and Credit Card transactions a separate transaction on my bank statement?
5. My bank account is showing multiple convenience fee charges. How do I get these duplicate charges removed?
6. I want to use my Debit Card but the System keeps updating the payment method to Credit Card. Why doesn’t the system allow my transaction to process as a Debit Card?
7. Can I pay for both property tax and vehicle registration in a single transaction?
8. Can you make a partial payment?
9. Can I use more than one payment method per transaction?
10. I never received an email confirmation. How can I confirm my payment was successful?
11. I made a payment by eCheck but the funds have not been taken out of my account. How long does it take for an eCheck to process if I pay online?
12. Why was my eCheck returned?
13. I received notification of a returned eCheck but the website shows I have nothing due. Do I really owe on the returned eCheck?
14. I have completed my payment but cannot figure out how to log out of my account?
15. Payment information that is stored on the site is incorrect. How do I correct?
16. I never received a renewal notice so I don’t have my Web PIN. How can I get a duplicate copy of my renewal?
17. I renewed my plates online but have not received my stickers. Has my renewal been processed?
18. I have a charge on my account from a County Treasurer but I do not remember completing the transaction. How do I find out what the charge is for?
19. What if this website is down or for some reason I am unable to use this site?

Answers to Common Website Questions:

1. Is there a fee to pay vehicle renewal or property taxes online?(Back to Top)

Yes, a nominal Administrative Fee of $0.30 is charged for all completed transactions. This fee supports the development, enhancement, maintenance and hosting of the Iowa Tax and Tags system.

For Credit and Debit Card transactions, a Convenience Fee is also charged which is paid directly to the card processor for merchant service fees.

Assessed Fees by Payment Method:

• Electronic Check - $0.30 Admin Fee “cheaper than a postage stamp”
• Debit Card - $0.30 Admin Fee + $3.25 Convenience Fee
• Credit Card - $0.30 Admin Fee + 2.20% Convenience Fee

2. Why is paying by Debit or Credit more expensive than paying by eCheck?(Back to Top)

There is a substantial difference in the cost to process Credit or Debit Cards vs. an Electronic Check (eCheck). An eCheck uses the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to move funds which costs just a few cents per transaction to process. Credit and Debit Cards process through the Card Networks which charges a percentage fee based on the amount of the transaction. The current convenience fee that our payment processor charges is 2.20% for Credit Cards and a flat $3.25 for Debit Card transactions.

The county treasurers understand that customers expect multiple payment options when paying online so we do offer Credit and Debit cards as payment options but the fee charged to process the transaction is passed onto the taxpayer who wishes to use this form of payment.

All businesses that accept debit or credit cards are charged merchant fees to process the transaction. The only difference is that the fee is built into the price of goods and services which inflate prices for all customers including those paying by check or cash. The county cannot raise taxes in order to absorb the merchant fees and therefore, in order to offer taxpayers the option of paying by credit or debit card, a convenience fee must be charged to cover the additional transaction cost.

3. What is an eCheck?(Back to Top)

An electronic check is a method of electronically transferring funds from your bank account to the county's bank account. We are not able to accept electronic checks drawn on savings accounts, money market accounts, IRAs, or credit card checks.

There is a non-refundable Admin Fee of $0.30 when paying by electronic check.

You may be assessed a surcharge for a dishonored eCheck not to exceed $30.00 as provided under Iowa Code section 554.3512 and 331.553(7).

4. Why is the convenience fee for Debit and Credit Card transactions a separate transaction on my bank statement?(Back to Top)

The convenience fee charged for credit and debit card transactions is charged directly by the card processor and is not deposited with the county.

5. My bank account is showing multiple convenience fee charges. How do I get these duplicate charges removed?(Back to Top)

Transactions completed by credit and debit cards are processed in two separate transactions. The convenience fee that is charged directly by the card processor is charged first, just moments before the tax/vehicle portion of the payment. If there is an issue processing the larger tax/vehicle amount (daily limit, non-sufficient funds, etc.) the convenience fee will be automatically voided by the processor. The funds for the voided payment are released back to your bank right away but it may take up to 3 business days for your bank to make the funds available.

6. I want to use my Debit Card but the System keeps updating the payment method to Credit Card. Why doesn’t the system allow my transaction to process as a Debit Card?(Back to Top)

In a PIN-less debit card environment, such as the internet where your card is not swiped or a PIN entered, payment processors rely on what is called a Bank Identification Number (BIN), to determine how to process the card.

The BIN, also referred to as the Issuer Identification Number (IIN), is the first 6 or 8 digits of a payment card number (credit cards, debit cards, etc.). The numbers identify the institution that issued the card, the card brand and the card type (credit or debit).

The Card Type listed in the BIN detail is what the payment processor uses to determine how a card is to be processed in a PIN-less debit card environment.

Your Payment Method was changed because the Card Type for the card you are using is different than the payment method you selected. The reason we allow various payment methods to be selected is due to the fact that this situation does not apply in all cases.

7. Can I pay for both property tax and vehicle registration in a single transaction?(Back to Top)

No, IowaTaxAndTags.org currently does not support payment of both property tax and vehicle renewal in a single transaction.

8. Can you make a partial payment?(Back to Top)

Partial payments are allowed on Property Tax payments. However, Vehicle Registration Renewals are required to be paid in full.

9. Can I use more than one payment method per transaction?(Back to Top)

No, IowaTaxAndTags.org currently does not support the use of multiple payment methods in a single transaction.

10. I never received an email confirmation. How can I confirm my payment was successful?(Back to Top)

An email confirmation was sent to the email address entered when completing your transaction. Sometimes, confirmation emails are caught in a spam or junk folder, so be sure to check there first! If it isn’t there, contact yourCounty Treasurerand they will be happy to confirm your transaction and resend the confirmation email.

If you can’t wait for your County Treasurer to confirm your transaction was successful, you can confirm one of two ways:

• Successful payments are reflected in real-time, within the balances due that are listed on IowaTaxAndTags.org. To confirm a payment was successful, simply search for your Parcel or Vehicle information to see the current balance.
• For Debit and Credit Card transactions, you can confirm the funds have been pulled from your account.

11. I made a payment by eCheck but the funds have not been taken out of my account. How long does it take for an eCheck to process if I pay online?(Back to Top)

Electronic check transactions typically take1 to 5 business days to settle. If there is a problem with your eCheck, you will be contacted directly by your County Treasurer’s Office to resolve the issue.

12. Why was my eCheck returned?(Back to Top)

When your electronic payment is returned, you will get notification from your county treasurer that includes the ‘Return Reason’. The ‘Return Reason’ is determined by the issuing bank and returned to the payment processor.

The most common ‘Return Reasons’ include:

Insufficient Funds– available balance is not sufficient to cover the dollar amount of the transaction.

No Account/Cannot Locate– the account number structure is valid and passes the check digit validation(1) but the account number entered does not correspond to an open account.

Invalid Account Number– the account number structure is not valid. The account number entered may fail the check digit validation(1) or may contain the incorrect number of digits.

Account Closed– a previously active account has been closed by action of the customer or the financial institution.

1. The ‘check digit validation’ is either a single digit or a series of numbers that are common in all checking account numbers for the financial institution and is used by the issuing bank to quickly detect error in account numbers. An example of a ‘check digit validation’ would be all accounts at a bank beginning with ‘15900’ or all checking accounts ending in ‘7’.

The routing and account number entered is not maintained by IowaTaxAndTags.org or by your county treasurer so we are not able to provide the routing or account number originally entered.

13. I received notification of a returned eCheck but the website shows I have nothing due. Do I really owe on the returned eCheck?(Back to Top)

County Treasurer’s may not cancel your payment in the county system right away and depending on the return reason, may give you time to make good on the return prior to cancelling your payment.

Property Tax Returned Payments- For returned eChecks on property tax returns, the online balance due will not be updated until after the county cancels the taxes within the county real estate system. It is important to follow the repayment instructions included in the returned eCheck notification.If you have a returned eCheck on the 1^stinstallment, paying the 2^ndinstallment on IowaTaxAndTags.org will NOT make good on the returned eCheck. The payment will be applied to the 2^ndinstallment in the county’s real estate system and the 1^stinstallment will remain unpaid, subject to late interest.

Vehicle Renewal Returned Payments– For returned eChecks on registration renewals, you will not be able to access your vehicle renewal online until repayment is made with the County Treasurer.

14. I have completed my payment but cannot figure out how to log out of my account?(Back to Top)

IowaTaxAndTags.org uses a guest checkout process when making payments and does not have individual login accounts. You can end your payment session by simply closing your internet browser.

15. Payment information that is stored on the site is incorrect. How do I correct?(Back to Top)

IowaTaxAndTags.org doesnotstore or maintain customer information. Most likely, the payer name, email, phone number and account information is stored within your internet browser. To remove the information, you will need to clear the browsing data from your internet browser.

16. I never received a renewal notice so I don’t have my Web PIN. How can I get a duplicate copy of my renewal?(Back to Top)

Renewal Notices are created and mailed by a third party and counties do not have the capably to reprint renewal notices. Fortunately, you do not need a renewal notice to renew online, you just need your plate number along with a Web PIN or Audit Number.

If you do not have your Web PIN, you can also use the Audit Number that is included in the bottom left portion of your current vehicle registration. See the followingExample Vehicle Registration.

If you do not have your current vehicle registration, you can contact your county treasurer to obtain your WEB PIN.

17. I renewed my plates online but have not received my stickers. Has my renewal been processed?(Back to Top)

Vehicle registration renewals are processed by your county and are typically processed and mailed on the next business day. If you do not receive your registration renewal within 20 days, contact your County Treasurer to receive a duplicate registration sticker.

18. I have a charge on my account from a County Treasurer but I do not remember completing the transaction. How do I find out what the charge is for?(Back to Top)

IowaTaxAndTags.org processes vehicle renewal and property tax payments so a charge from your County Treasurer is most likely related to a property tax or vehicle transaction completed online, by phone or in-office.

Still not sure what the transaction is for? Send an email to your county treasurer and include the following information so the treasurer can research further:

1. Your Name
2. Date of the Transaction
3. Amount of the transaction
4. The Last 4 Digits of your Account Number

19. What if this website is down or for some reason I am unable to use this site?(Back to Top)

Please be aware that interest and fees will not be waived if this website is inoperable for any reason or if data entry errors occur. If the website is inoperable, payments can be made by mail, by phone or in the County Treasurer's office.