Payment Terms And Conditions

These Payment Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of IowaTaxAndTags.org (the “Site”). As used in these Terms, the words “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to IowaTaxAndTags.org and the County Treasurer you are paying. The words "you" and "your" refer to you as the business or consumer using the Site and accepting these Terms. The words “you” and “your” also include any user you authorize to use the Site on your behalf.

1. Methods of Payment. Online payments can be made in the form of electronic check (ACH), credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or Amex) or debit card. 
2. Non-Refundable Fees. As a governmental agency, we are restricted from deducting the costs associated with these forms of payment from your tax or vehicle registration amount due. Therefore, the cost associated with maintaining the payment site and processing your transaction will be included in your total amount due.  The non-refundable fees include two categories as shown below:

Administrative Fee - This is a $0.30 fixed fee for each transaction and supports the development, enhancement, maintenance and hosting of the Iowa Tax and Tags system.

Convenience Fee - This fee is charged on all credit and debit card transactions.  The fee is deposited directly with the card processor and will appear as a second transaction on your card statement.  Neither Iowa Tax and Tags nor the participating counties receive this fee. 

Credit Cards – The convenience fee for credit card transactions is calculated based on a 2.20% of the transaction subtotal (Taxes + Administrative Fee). You can use the fee calculator to easily estimate your convenience fee.

Debit Cards - The convenience fee for debit card transactions is a fixed $3.25 fee for each transaction.

3. Bank Identification Number (BIN) Check. 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/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. 

If the Card Type listed for the credit or debit card differs from the Payment Method selected, the system will automatically update the payment method to match the card type determined in the BIN detail.  The change in the Payment Method will affect the non-refundable convenience fee charged by the card processor. 

When the card type has changed, the fees will be updated and a warning massage displayed, indicating that the payment method could not be processed as selected and that the fees have been adjusted.

4. Card Security Code Info. The CVV Number ("Card Verification Value") on your credit card or debit card is a 3-digit number on VISA®, MasterCard® and Discover® branded credit and debit cards. On your American Express® branded credit or debit card it is a 4-digit numeric code. You should never enter your PIN number when asked to provide your CVV. 
5. ACH Authorization. When you initiate a payment through the Site, you authorize Iowa Tax And Tags and our third party payment processor to (a) debit the bank account you designate through the Automated Clearing House or (b) charge the credit card account you designate. If your payment is made by debit to a bank account, you agree that you and your payment will be subject to the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association.

If we are not able to debit the amount required to cover an authorized payment and any fees from your bank account, the payment you have authorized may not be made, and we will not be held liable if the payment is not made. We have no obligation to try to debit an account for a specific payment more than once.

You agree to regularly and promptly review and verify all transactions either through this Site or through the monthly statements received from your bank or credit card issuer holding your account(s). Also, if your bank or credit card statement shows transactions by us that you did not authorize, contact your bank or card issuer promptly.  Please note that it may take up to five business days for funds to be withdrawn from your bank account for electronic checks (eChecks).

6. Unsuccessful Transactions. Transactions will change to an unsuccessful status if payment is not received from the sending bank. Notification of unsuccessful transactions will be provided. Unsuccessful transactions must be successfully paid prior to the payment deadline together with any accompanying administrative fees in order to avoid late penalties.  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).
7. Late Penalty. Payments initiated on the last day of each month must be completed before midnight to avoid late penalty.

Late Penalty for Property Taxes - Iowa law requires the Treasurer to assess late interest on all delinquent payments at the rate of 1.5% per month, rounded to the nearest dollar. Cost is a statutory charge associated with preparation requirements for delinquent taxes eligible for tax sale.

8. Software Requirements. To access and retain information from IowaTaxAndTags.org, you must have access to an Internet service and use a supported browser and operating system.

Supported Browsers (Desktop, Mobile & Tablet)

Supported Operating Systems

9. Browser Security Settings. We require the use of Transport Layer Security (TLS) standard transmission encryption to protect transmission of users' personally identifiable information submitted in connection with making a payment or purchase.  TLS is a security technology designed to enable your browser to send and receive information with another server in an encrypted format.  The minimum version of TLS required to complete the payment process is 1.2.
10. Erroneous Instructions. If we receive a payment instruction authorized by you and the instruction is erroneous in anyway, we shall have no obligation or liability for the error.
11. Authorized Users. Any signer on your bank accounts is authorized to make payments, even if your account otherwise requires two or more signatures for withdrawals. You agree that you are an authorized signer or owner of any account you instruct us to debit or charge.
12. Our Liability. If we do not complete a payment which you have authorized in a timely manner, in accordance with these Terms, we will be liable only for your direct losses or damages. However, there are some exceptions. We will NOT be liable, for example, when:

Through no fault of ours, your account does not contain sufficient available funds for us to debit the account in the amount of the payment due, or your account does not have sufficient available credit for us to charge the amount of the payment due.

Circumstances beyond our control (such as fire, flood, or interruption of Internet access) prevent or impede the transaction, despite reasonable precautions we have taken.

The funds in your account are subject to an uncollected funds hold, legal process or any other encumbrance or claim restricting transfers at the time we attempt to debit your account for an authorized payment(s).

The information you have supplied to us is incorrect, incomplete or not timely

13. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted or error free. There are times that the Site may be unavailable due to scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. We will have no liability for (i) any failure or malfunction of the equipment or software you use to access the Site, or (ii) any actions or omissions of any person or entity providing you with an Internet browser or Internet access.
14. Tax Sale Subsequent Tax Payments. Leaving delinquent taxes unpaid on a parcel for which you hold a unredeemed tax sale certificate may impact your legal rights in the future. It is the users responsibility to assess the status of delinquent taxes before paying a subsequent tax as an addition to a tax sale.