Treasurer FAQ

No, you need to contact the Douglas County Clerk's Office at 785-832-5147.

Beginning January 1, 2014, Motor Carriers will no longer pay ad-valorem tax (tax based on value), nor personal property tax on Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV). With the passage of HB2557 during the 2012 legislative session, CMVs will pay a new "Commercial vehicle fee" that will be collected at the time of registration. Intrastate (do not travel outside the state of Kansas) CMVs will receive a new registration plate that will have a screen printed "COMMERCIAL" at the bottom of the plate.

A commercial vehicle is any self-propelled (truck) or towed (trailer) vehicle engaged in the furtherance of commerce that is used to transport property or passengers when the vehicle:

1. has a gross vehicle (capacity/rated) weight or gross combination vehicle weight (truck and trailer) of 10,001 pounds or more or,
    
2. is designed or used to transport 15 or more passengers, including the driver or,
    
3. is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding.

Note: This change does not affect Farm Registration or vehicles of a public utility whose property is assessed by the director of property valuation.

Exceptions:

1. The owner of livestock or producer of farm products transporting livestock or farm products to market in that owner's motor vehicle, or the motor vehicle of a neighbor on the basis of barter or exchange for service or employment. Also, the transporting of necessary supplies for the use of such owner or producer, in said vehicle or in the motor vehicle of a neighbor on the basis of barter or exchange for service or employment.

   Therefore, if a truck is Farm Registered or used exclusively for owner's farm operation and DOES NOT TRAVEL OUT OF KANSAS it is not considered a Commercial vehicle.
    

2. The transportation of children to and from school, or to motor vehicles owned by schools, colleges, and universities, religious or charitable organizations and institutions, or governmental agencies, when used to convey students, inmates, employees, athletic teams, orchestras, bands or other similar activities.

   This exception would not apply to Commercial Vehicles hired by one of the entities listed above to transport children other than to or from school. Example: Buses hired to take students on a school trip.
    

3. Motor vehicles owned and operated by the United States, the District of Columbia, any state, any municipality or any other political subdivisions of this state.
    
4. Persons operating motor vehicles which have an ad valorem tax situs in and are registered in the state of Kansas, and used only to transport grain from the producer to an elevator or other place for storage or sale for a distance of not to exceed 50 miles. This can only be the sole use of this vehicle; if they exceed 50 miles or haul other items for hire they must have a USDOT number.
    
5. Any motor vehicle with a normal seating capacity of not more than the driver and 15 passengers while used for vanpooling or otherwise not for profit in transporting persons who, as a joint undertaking, bear or agree to bear all the cost of such operations, or motor vehicles with a normal seating capacity not more than the driver and 15 passengers for not-for-profit transportation by one or more employees to and from the factories, plants, offices, institutions, construction sites or other places of like nature where such persons are employed or accustomed to work.
    
6. The operation of hearses, funeral coaches, funeral cars or ambulances by motor carriers.
    
7. The operation of vehicles used for servicing, repairing or transporting of implements of husbandry, as defined in K.S.A. 8-1427, and amendments thereto, by a person actively engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging implements of husbandry, if such operation is within 100 miles of such person's established place of business in this state, unless the implement of husbandry is transported on a CMV.

   "Implement of husbandry" is defined as every vehicle designed or adapted and used exclusively for agricultural operations… regardless of ownership.
    

8. Referred to as "Tools of the Trade Exemption":

   (A) Motor vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or less, carrying tools, property or material belonging to the owner of the vehicle, and used in repair, building or construction work are excepted and not considered Commercial Vehicles. This does not include vehicles transporting actual building materials or other objects for eventual sale. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials are always considered Commercial, require a placard and must register as such.

   (B) Construction materials being transferred to and from an active construction site may be transported in a non-commercial vehicle with a GVWR of under 26,000 lbs. as long as the site is within a 25-mile radius of the motor carrier's principal place of business.
    

If your vehicle meets the definition of a Commercial motor vehicle you will need to present your current US DOT number at registration time.

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/

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

If the payment is for real estate, you have until May 9th to still pay the first half with interest. If the payment is for personal property, the full amount plus interest becomes due on December 21st.

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.

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.

Douglas County Treasurer

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.

Yes, HOWEVER, you will need required documents in order to register the vehicle if your name is not on the title.

1. Have the purchaser sign the back of the title where it says Buyer Signature/Purchaser Signature. Print off a TR-212a and have the purchaser sign at the bottom of the form where it says Owner's Signature. Bring in the title documents, proof of insurance, signature form (TR-212a), and payment, and we will register the vehicle without the owner in the office.

OR

2. Have the purchaser sign a Power of Attorney that allows you to bring in their paperwork and sign their name for them. The Power of Attorney is a one time use, original document that cannot be copied or used for anything other than registering a vehicle for someone else.

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!

Douglas County is now processing Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV)

CMV hours 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday. Only at our downtown location at 1100 Massachusetts Lawrence, KS 66044

To setup an appointment outside CMV regular hours please call 785-832-5176 or e-mail.

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

http://www.truckingks.org, and scroll down to and click on the link under:

Useful Resources - Commercial Motor Vehicle Resources

OR, call 785-296-6541 or 785-271-3145.

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.

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

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

If the tax owing is Real Estate tax you can:

1. Pay online at http://ks-douglas.manatron.com/
   Once you're on this site, you need to choose the "Tax Search" tab and search by entering the PIN, Situs Address, or Mailing Address. If you're paying by e-check, there is a $1.50 fee; if you're paying with a credit or debit card, there is a 2.35% fee on the total.
    
2. Pay by mail by mailing a check for payment to our office at:
   • Douglas County Treasurer
   • P.O. Box 884
   • Lawrence, Kansas 66044

Please Note:

• If you are paying Personal Property taxes for 2014, you may follow the instructions above.
• If you are paying Personal Property taxes for 2013 or prior, you can mail a check payable to Kelly Law Office at the following address:
  • Kelly Law Office
  • P.O. Box 664
  • Tonganoxie, Kansas 66086

All motor homes and RV trailers meeting the definition of a RV will be registered and renewed on a staggered system based on the first letter of the owner's last name. This is the same system used for auto, trucks, and trailers. Use the "regular" registration fees for trucks and trailers based on the registration weight for the vehicle/trailer.

For an estimate on how much it will cost, go to our New Vehicle Purchase Fees page, when calculating registration fees use fees for "Vehicles over 4501 lbs" and for property tax be sure to change the search by method to "RV empty weight and year".

NOTE: You are NOT REQUIRED to obtain a reissued title after the lien is satisfied (paid off).You can sell the vehicle with your title that shows a lien holder on the front if you have a release of lien from the lien holder, giving both to the buyer. However, if the title and the lien release are lost, a new lien release will be required before making application for a reissued title, which will be used as the replacement title.

If the vehicle owner wishes to remove a lien holder's name from a registration receipt, an application for reissued title must be made at the local county treasurer's motor vehicle office.  Bring the notarized lien release and a title will be requested and mailed to you within 5 to 7 days.

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. The Clerk's office also files car registration amounts. The Clerk's office can be contacted at: 785-832-5337.

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.

And: All persons listed before and after the "and" must sign. &/or: Either the person before or after the "& / or", "and / or" can sign, only one signature required. Or: Either the person before or after the "or" can sign, only one signature is required.

Due to difficulties with other titling jurisdictions interpretation of "and/or" differently than that from Kansas, it is suggested that if you want only one (1) person to be allowed to sign all transactions for a vehicle, the word "or" be used between names.

The Kansas Division of Vehicle interprets two or more names with no connection between the names to be "and", which will require all persons listed to sign as owner.