***County offices are currently closed to the public***

At present, our office is closed to the public. All business must be done via mail or online. We will waive all mailing fees. You can contact our office regarding fees and documentation that need to be sent. There is a drop box outside of the county building where you can also leave tax payments and motor vehicle paperwork & payments. As usual, you can also make payments for taxes and renewals online - we will waive the mailing fees but we cannot waive the service charge, as that is paid directly to the outsourced company. Please call our office with any questions. (605)578-1862

***PROCEDURES FOR MAILING PAYMENTS:

TO MAIL PROPERTY TAXES:

Send payment with parcel numbers or payment stubs off of tax notices. If you’re unsure of your amounts due, call or email Treasurer’s office for correct amounts due. Payments can also be made through one of our online services but we can not waive their service charge.

TO MAIL VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS:

Send renewal card or renewal letter with payment. If there are vehicles you are not renewing on the card, cross them off. If you do not have your renewal notice or are unsure of amounts due, call or email the Treasurer’s office for correct amounts due. Payments can also be made through one of our online services but we can not waive their service charge. If you have a South Dakota driver’s license or ID number, you can renew your plates through the state site at mysdcars.sd.gov. You can also use the self service kiosk at the administrative building in Rapid City. As Rushmore Mall is closed, the kiosk located there is not available at this time.

TO MAIL VEHICLE TITLE TRANSFERS:

Required documentation for vehicle purchase:

1. Completed and signed application for South Dakota Title & Registration (there is a link to the most current form on this page)
2. Original title, signed by buyer and seller both
3. Bill of sale or purchase agreement
4. Any other documentation dealer may send with your title including POA, dealer reassignment, odometer disclosure, lien release, etc. (Any leased vehicles will require a POA and copy of lease agreement.)
5. Copy of driver’s license and proof of Social Security Number if your license is out of state
6. Copy of South Dakota driver’s license if this is the first vehicle to be put in your name in South Dakota

Required documentation to transfer title for a vehicle already in your name from another state:

1. Completed and signed application for South Dakota Title & Registration (there is a link to the most current form on this page)
2. Original title
3. Any leased vehicle will require a POA and copy of lease agreement
4. Copy of driver’s license and proof of Social Security Number if your license is out of state
5. Copy of South Dakota driver’s license if this is the first vehicle to be put in your name in South Dakota

Things to include with documents:

1. Contact phone number
2. License plate number, if you have a valid plate to use from a vehicle you sold or traded in
3. Number of wheels on vehicle/trailer/RV
4. If purchase is an ATV and you wish to license it, include completed and signed "Low Speed and Off Road Vehicle Affidavit" (most recent affidavit no longer requires notarization)
5. For trailer or RV that does not already have a South Dakota title, include printed weight ticket or other physical proof of the empty/shipping weight of the vehicle if it’s not on title
6. If titling a trailer, include dimensions.

If you have additional paperwork, are missing paperwork, or if you’re unsure if you need to send something, call or email Treasurer’s office before mailing documentation. Nothing on the title can be crossed off or whited out, as the title is a legal document. If this has occurred, contact our office for further instructions.

Payments can be made with check or through our online service. As we cannot provide you with an exact amount due without first seeing your title work, if you send a check you will need to make it out to "Lawrence County Treasurer", sign it, and leave the amount blank. We will fill in the amount when we receive your paperwork. Otherwise you can pay with credit card through one of our online services but, again, we cannot waive the service charge. For a breakdown of fees that may be due, see our "Titles and Licensing" page.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION FOR TITLE:

South Dakota’s Application for Motor Vehicle/Boat Title must be included with all paperwork. (There is a link for the most current version of this form at the top of this page.) If your purchase is from a South Dakota dealer, this should already be included in your title work. The following needs to be filled out on the application:

1. Section A: Mark whether this is a boat or motor vehicle transfer
2. Section B: Include the following vehicle information - VIN/HIN, Year, Make, Model, Color, Odometer reading (if vehicle is 10 years old or newer). If this is for a boat, also include Length, Hull material, boat type, and propulsion type
3. Section C: Include name of each person who will be on the new title, as well as address and "Identification #" (SD driver’s license or ID number or SSN), and type of ownership (or, and, trust, etc.)
4. Section D: Title mailing address if different than owner’s address
5. Section E: Contact name, email address, and phone number
6. Section F: Skip this section (If purchase is from a dealer, they may fill this section out)
7. Section G: If there is a lienholder, include their name and address
8. Section H: Printed name and signature of owners

***If you have a question about filling out the application for title, please contact our office before you mail your paperwork.

Duties

The Treasurer’s Office is best known by the public for issuing motor vehicle licenses and collecting property taxes. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting all taxes (real estate, mobile home taxes, and special assessments) for the County, Cities, and School.

Titles & Licenses

The Treasurer’s Office titles and licenses all new and used motor vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, snowmobiles and boats, releases and notarizes motor vehicle liens, and assists taxpayers in applying for duplicate motor vehicle title and permits.

Receiving & Managing

The Treasurer receives and accounts for all revenue collected by all County offices and is responsible for managing the County’s investments. In addition, the Treasurer is responsible for submitting monthly remittance payments to the State as required by law.

Application Assistance

In addition to collecting taxes and other forms of revenue, the Treasurer assists senior and disabled citizens file applications for property tax relief - applications are available January 2 at the Treasurer’s Office and must be returned to the Treasurer’s Office by March 31. Below is a link to the 2020 application.

Assessment Freeze 2020 Application

Distress Warrants

In conjunction with the State Departments of Revenue and Labor, the Treasurer issues distress warrants to the Sheriff’s Office in the event of non-payment of state sales taxes or unemployment insurance.

Hunting & Fishing Licenses

The Treasurer’s Office also sells South Dakota hunting and fishing licenses for resident and non-resident. Photo Id is required.

*** CURRENTLY, LAWRENCE COUNTY IS NOT SELLING HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES. Contact SD Game, Fish, and Parks at gfp.sd.gov or at (605)223-7700 for more information.

When you pay by check, you authorize us to use its information to process an electronic funds transfer (EFT). When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from you account as soon as the same day you make your payment.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any unpaid 2018 property taxes were delinquent as of November 1, 2019. All delinquent taxes are subject to interest per South Dakota state law. The delinquent tax list was published in the Black Hills Pioneer on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The tax certificate sale was held on December 16, 2019. Please contact our office to get a correct payoff amount before sending in a payment.