Treasurer FAQ

As directed by KSA 19-547, a listing of all delinquent personal property taxes will be published three consecutive weeks during the month of October.

In order to for the District Attorney's office to assist us in pursuing collection of insufficient checks, proof of identification is required at the time the check is accepted.

Local units of government are currently prohibited by federal law from taking credit cards directly. We must go through a 3rd party vendor who charges a fee for the service they provide to us and the taxpayer.

Any overages occurring from a tax sale are turned over to the Douglas County District Court.    The Treasurer’s Office does not retain a listing of these properties. 

You will need to contact the Appraiser's Office at: 785-832-5289. Be prepared to provide the proper documentation regarding any transactions.

As directed by KSA 79-2303, a listing of all delinquent real estate properties will be published three consecutive weeks during the month of August.

Commercial Motor Vehicles Services are now available in Douglas County!

Please e-mail to find out how to get vehicles registered.

For a detailed explanation of Kansas Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and USDOT requirements go to Kansas Department of Revenue.
 

You will need to exhibit proof of insurance to the treasurer. The proof of insurance must have: the name of the insurance company, the policy number, name of the vehicle owner, the effective and expiration date of the coverage, the year, make and VIN for the vehicle being renewed. You will need proof of insurance for each vehicle. If a trailer does not have its own coverage, the trailer will use the insurance of the vehicle that will be towing the trailer. State law K.S.A 40-3107 requires proof of insurance as a prerequisite to motor vehicle registration.

First half taxes are due December 20th. Second half taxes are due May 10th.

If there is a lien holder on file with the Kansas Division of Vehicles for the vehicle, a duplicate title application cannot be issued as long as the lien holder is indicated on the vehicle's computer record. To determine if there is a lien holder listed on the vehicle record look at the latest registration receipt issued for the vehicle or trailer. If there is a lien holder listed, a lien release will be required before the Division of Vehicles will issue a title (it will be a reissue title to remove the lien holder from the computer record and the title). (Exception, moving out of state).

If there is no lien holder for the vehicle, a duplicate title application can be completed at any county treasurer's office or by mailing directly to the Titles and Registrations Bureau. You will need to complete the Application for Secured/Duplicate/Reissue Title, form VCO/TR-720B that includes the following information: vehicle year, make and identification number, owner's name(s) the current odometer reading and your signature. Include appropriate title fee.

NOTE: If the title was issued prior to 2003 and you have an out of state lien holder, check the upper left portion of the receipt for application for Kansas title for "SMO to Lienholder". If there is and SMO (Special Mailing Order) noted on the application, the title was mailed to the lien holder. If the lien is paid off, contact the lien holder concerning the title.

If the title was printed but not mailed to the lien holder or the lien holder does not have the title, you will need a lien release and make application for a "reissued" title that will remove the lien enabling a title to be printed.

You will need a Certification of Disability for Disabled Parking Placard and/or Plate, form TR-159, completed and signed by a Healing Arts licensed Professional (doctor). Instructions and information concerning obtaining a disabled parking placard and/or plate are on the form, TR-159. Take or mail this form to the local county treasurer's motor vehicle office to make application for the disabled parking placard and/or plate. You may have up to two (2) disabled parking devices (one license plate and one placard or two placards). There is no fee for the placard(s) or identification (ID) card.

To reprint a registration renewal, please visit this link and enter the plate number you would like the renewal for:

http://mvs.dmv.kdor.ks.gov/PrintRenewals/

To change the address, the vehicle owner may:

• By e-mail to motorvehicles@douglascountyks.org, include the new and old address along with the plate numbers you would like to change the address on.
• Appear in person at the County Treasurer's office where you live now
  • Bring the current registration receipt or the license plate number
  • Know the new address that is within that County
  • Sign for the address change
• By mail to the County Treasurer's office where you live now:
  • Send in a signed TR-212a form, http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/tr212.pdf#search=tr212 complete with license plate number, VIN , new address, and the signature of registered owner
  • Or, send to the County where you now live, a signed, dated letter with the license plate number, the vehicle year, make and VIN, plus the old address and the new address of the registered owner.

In you live in Douglas County please mail the TR-212a form or signed letter to:

• Douglas County Treasurer
• P.O. Box 884
• Lawrence, KS 66044-0884

The seller will need to submit a Notarized Lien release to the Department of Revenue or the County Treasurer's office for the title to be printed. In the interim the seller can sign a TR-39a: Electronic Title Sales Agreement' and a 'TR-40: P.O.A., Purchase Price and ODS for Electronic Title' to you and give you a copy of their registration. Once the seller has signed the TR-39a form the purchaser can come in with the TR-39a, proof of insurance, the seller's registration and their Driver's License to purchase a 60-day permit while waiting for the title to be printed. After the title is printed the seller will sign the title over to the purchaser OR the title can be mailed directly to the purchaser and he/she can use the TR-40 to sign the title over to themselves.

You will need to take the vehicle and the title* for the vehicle to a Kansas motor vehicle inspection station and obtain a Motor Vehicle Examination (form MVE-1) before going to the county treasurer's motor vehicle office. Contact the county treasurer's office or check the Kansas Highway Patrol at http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/BusinessDirectoryii.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=76 concerning the location and hours of operation of the inspection station. Take the title*, the pink copy of the MVE- 1 and proof of insurance with you to the county treasurer's motor vehicle office to make application for a Kansas title and registration. Each county has their own mill levy for personal property taxes so you will need to contact the county treasurer's office to determine the total amount of fees and taxes due.

*If the title is being held by your lien holder or if the vehicle is being leased, the lien holder or leasing company will need to fax the front and back of the title to the county treasurer's office or the motor vehicle inspection station. The faxed copies will be used to complete the motor vehicle examination resulting in the issuance of an MVE-1. Take proof of insurance, the pink copy of the MVE-1, the copies of the front and back of the title, and a current valid registration receipt from the state in which the vehicle was last registered to the county treasurer's motor vehicle office and make application for title and registration. If the paperwork is complete, a license plate will be issued at that time. The Treasurer's office will send a letter to the lien holder or leasing company requesting they surrender the title they are holding to the Treasurer's office. A new Kansas title will be issued and mailed back to leasing company, if there is no lien holder. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the title will be held electronically until the lien is released. If the lien holder or leasing company will not surrender the title, the applicant and the lien holder or leasing company will need to work out a way for the title to be surrendered, or the registration will not be renewed. The vehicle cannot be operated without valid/current registration.

If the title is being held electronically by another state, the current valid registration receipt from the state in which the vehicle was last registered will be used as proof of ownership for accepting the application for title and registration. The Treasurer's office will correspond with the lien holder and/or the other state to request the title be surrendered to the Treasurer's office. If the title is not surrendered, the applicant and the lien holder or leasing company will need to work out a way for the title to be surrendered, or the registration will not be renewed. The vehicle cannot be operated without valid/current registration.

NOTE: You will have 60 days from the date the letter is sent to the lien holder requesting the title to complete the application for title. (If there are other issues with the application, a letter will be mailed to the applicant to resolve the problem(s).) After 60 days, the registration (license plate) will not be renewed until the title application is completed (all requested information is received). It is the applicant's/owner's responsibility to ensure the title is surrendered to the Treasurer's office by the lien holder.

Real estate and personal property payment history can be found online through the Property Search page.

The website contains only Real Estate information. Personal property history can be obtained by contacting our office 785-832-5178. Payment information for your car tags can be found on your registration. If you want the amount paid please be prepared with a plate number for each vehicle, you can call us at 785-832-5273.

To remove a name(s): At least one of the current owners must remain on the title as an owner. Use the assignment on the back of the title. Complete the purchaser's name space on the back of the title under "Name of Purchaser" as the name(s) are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128.  Bring in your current registration and proof of insurance.

Adding a name(s): Only an immediate family member (spouse, father, mother, son and/or daughter) can be added to a title.  This is considered to be transfer of an existing registration. On the back of the title, use the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If it is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128.  All owners need to sign for the initial application, bring in your current registration and proof of insurance.  If you choose to purchase a new plate any one can be added to the title.

If you are adding any names that are not immediate family members, use the back of the title and complete the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If it is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128. This is considered an original title application and all fees and taxes will be accessed. Bring in your proof of insurance.

Changing name(s) due to marriage or court order will requires a copy of the marriage license or the court order. Use the back of the title and complete the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128.  Bring in your current registration and proof of insurance.

For current information on county tax sales, please check our Tax Foreclosures page. For information on sales handled by the Sheriff's Office, please visit the Sheriff Sales page.

When registering a moped, heavy truck or trailer, you are only paying for the registration fees on that item.   Personal property taxes are billed separately through the County.  These statements are mailed out mid November and the beginning of April. 

Once you have signed over the title to someone else the owner (seller) can apply for a refund in the County in which the fees were paid.

The owner will need to bring in the following:

• License Plate
• Driver's License / I.D. Card
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Passport ID Number
• Current Registration (Please Note: If you do not have one, a duplicate registration can printed for $1.00)

For a vehicle that is now registered in another state?:
If you have recently moved to another state, you can apply for a refund of the remaining property taxes.

The owner will need to bring in or mail in the following:

• The License Plate (unless the other state requires you turn it in)
• Copy of the owners Out of State Driver's License
• Copy of the Out of State Registration for that vehicle
• Current KS registration (Please Note: If you do not have one, a duplicate registration can printed for $1.00)
• Refund Form TR-210 (PDF format)
• Out of State Refund Instruction Sheet (PDF format)

Please Note: Refunds are calculated on the date ALL the documentation is complete. If it is your month of renewal there would not be a refund.

Mail all information to:

• Douglas County Treasurer
• P.O. Box 884
• Lawrence, KS 66044-0884

You can change your address by mailing it to P.O. Box 884, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. It can also be changed by email to skurtz@douglascountyks.org, or by filling out the back portion of the tax statement that is to be turned in with your payment.

If the seller does not give the buyer a properly assigned title and cannot be located, the buyer must consult with an attorney and go to court to obtain a court order authorizing the Kansas Department of Revenue to title the vehicle in the name of the petitioner (quiet title action).

A motorized bicycle is defined in KSA 8-126(aa) as, a device having two tandem wheels OR three wheels, which may be propelled by either human power, helper power, or by both, and which has ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. A motor which produces not more than 3.5 brake horsepower; *and*
2. a cylinder capacity of not more than 130 cc (cubic centimeters); *and*
3. an automatic transmission; *and*
4. the capability of a maximum design speed of no more than 30 miles per hour.

Any two or three wheeled vehicle which:

• Exceeds any of these specifications or performance factors, *and/or*
• Does not have an automatic transmission

cannot be registered as a motorized bike and MUST be registered as a motorcycle, or may not qualify for any type of title and registration.