Frequently Asked Questions

We’re located on the second floor of the Annex Building. Address: 111 American Legion Place, Suite 205, Greenfield, IN 46140

Tax statements are mailed one time per year.   Each statement has a spring and fall coupon which indicate the due dates.  We do not send delinquent notices.

Beginning in 2008, Indiana Code requires an informational tax statement to be mailed to all persons liable for any property taxes or special assessments, as shown on the tax duplicate or special assessment records. This includes persons maintaining an escrow account.

The only sure way to know is to contact your mortgage company. Keep in mind there will be a lag between the time the money is deducted from your escrow and the time it is finally sent to the Treasurer's Office for payment of your taxes.

Congratulations on paying off your mortgage!  Your taxes will no longer be paid from your escrow account, so you are responsible for paying them directly to the Hancock County Treasurer’s Office. Tax statements are mailed out from the Treasurer’s Office once per year and include both the spring and fall payment coupons.  Please make sure you pay each installment by their due date.

That is usually covered during closing, however, if you are unsure you should check with the Title Company, Lawyer, or Real Estate Agent that handled the sale.

The Treasurer’s office does not do any calculating for splitting tax bills, therefore, this will need to be worked out between the buyer and the seller.  If helpful, they can use this Calculator for Splits. When paying the tax bill, you will be required to tell the Treasurer’s office staff the amount you are paying towards the specific parcel number. 

There are a number of deductions and exemptions available to qualifying taxpayers. The Auditor’s Office can provide additional information about deductions and exemptions at 317-477-1105.

The Assessor’s office can provide you with information about the assessment and valuation of your property at 317-477-1102. 

The name(s) on a real estate tax bill is the name(s) of the deed holder. You can contact the Auditor's Office (317-477-1105) to learn about the legal steps you must follow to change the deed. If a new deed is going to be filed, this will be done with the Recorder's Office (317-477-1142).

If you want your tax notices delivered to an address different than the property address, you can request to change your mailing address. Mailing address changes are processed by the Auditor's Office (317-477-1105).
  
     You can complete the Address Change Form (PDF) and mail the form to:
               Hancock County Auditor
               Attention: Address Change
               111 S American Legion Place, Suite 217
               Greenfield, IN 46140

These are additional charges added to your property tax bill.  Generally, they are ditch and/or drain maintenance fees but could also include liens and other fees.  Other assessments are shown on table 4 of the comparison statement that comes with your annual tax bill.  For more information about drains, please contact the County Surveyor's Office at 317-477-1150.

YES. Owners of tax-exempt real estate often ignore bills which are received as a result of drainage assessments. Drainage assessments must be paid by all landowners even if the owner is exempt from real property taxes. While the drainage assessments are listed on the same form as tax bills, they are not "taxes" as the term is normally understood. They are user charges for the maintenance and/or reconstruction of regulated drains which directly or indirectly serve a parcel of real estate. Pursuant to IC 36-9-27-86, drainage fees are collected semi-annually in the same manner as real property taxes. For more information about drains, please contact the County Surveyor's Office at 317-477-1150.

Property taxes are always paid in the rears. If you were the owner of the property the prior year and filed the personal property return or the assessor made an assessment in your name because you failed to file the personal property assessment, you are responsible for the taxes. Your tax bill may be for prior years' taxes that were unpaid.

Pursuant to IC 6-1.1-7-10, anyone who wants to transfer title (ownership) of a mobile home or to move a mobile home from one location to another must obtain a mobile home tax clearance permit. This permit is issued by the County Treasurer's Office of the county where the mobile home is located. The $5 fee per permit must be paid by cash or check. Please bring the Title and Bill of Sale with you to the Treasurer’s Office. You must have this permit before going to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle to transfer title.  For a copy of the permit form, click HERE. 

Visit our Low Site by clicking HERE to view your annual taxes due or call our office at 317-477-1152 for the amount of your tax bill.

Visit our Low website by clicking HERE to view payments received or you can call our office at 317-477-1152 for payment details.

Once the county is notified of an NSF check, the original payment is reversed.  After the due date, any unpaid taxes will be subject to penalty.

If there are no prior delinquencies a 5% penalty will be added if paid within 30 days of the due date.  A 10% penalty will be added if there are prior delinquencies or payment is received more than 30 days after due date.  Please call our office at 317-477-1152 to get the updated balance due.

Pursuant to IC 6-1.1-37.10, payment is considered on time when postmarked by the U.S. Post Office on or before the installment due date. "Postmarked" does not mean the date printed by a postage meter that affixes postage to the envelope or package containing a payment. All envelopes that are received late are saved by the office for 1 year.

Twice a year after spring and fall settlement takes place, letters notifying taxpayers of surplus funds greater than $5.00 are sent out from the Treasurer’s office.  The letter contains the amount of overpayment and instructions about how to claim the refund.  Refunds may take 4-6 weeks once the Auditor’s office receives the completed claim form. 

Yes, you may pay any amount towards your tax bill.   Spring and fall installments must be paid in full by the due dates to avoid penalty.

The Treasurer’s office conducts one tax sale per year for parcels with delinquent property taxes.  Sheriff’s sales are a result of mortgage foreclosure.  They occur numerous times throughout the year and are conducted by the County Sheriff.

Any delinquent taxes or special assessments for three consecutive installments that remain unpaid will cause your property to become eligible for tax sale.  Click HERE for additional information about tax sales.

Once a parcel is eligible for tax sale, all delinquent taxes, penalties and the tax sale fee must be paid in order to remove the parcel from tax sale.

The Treasurer’s office only collects property taxes.  Please contact the Indiana Department of Revenue (317-232-2240) with local income tax questions.