Search and Pay Polk County Property Taxes

This page helps with Property Tax in Polk County, Florida. It explains where to check a tax record, how to pay, what deadlines matter, and which Polk County offices handle common tax questions.

Most users will start with the Polk County Tax Collector. The main online path is the Search & Pay Property Taxes service, which lets you search a tax record without making a payment.

Search & Pay Property Taxes

The main self-service tool for Property Tax in Polk County, Florida is the Polk County Tax Collector’s online Search & Pay system. It supports record searches and online payments for real estate and tangible personal property taxes.

• Your current property tax account number
• Your old account number, if that is what you have available

When you search with an old account number, the search results show the current tax account number on screen.

• Open the Search & Pay Property Taxes page.
• Search for the tax record using a current or old account number.
• Review the returned account details before paying.
• Pay online by credit card, debit card, or E-Check if you want to complete the transaction online.
• Print the receipt after the transaction is confirmed if you need a copy for your records.

Important: The search feature should not be relied on for a title search.

Payment methods and partial payments

Polk County offers several ways to pay Property Tax. Online payments accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and E-Check. No convenience fee is charged for online E-Check payments.

Mail payments for real estate and tangible personal property taxes can be sent to Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector, P.O. Box 1189, Bartow, FL 33831-1189. If you do not have your tax notice, include the owner name, return mailing address, property tax account number or numbers, owner telephone number, and owner email address. Do not send cash through the mail.

Walk-in payments can be made during regular business hours at any Tax Collector Service Center location in Polk County. Walk-in payments may be made by credit card, debit card, cash, check, or money order. Drop box payments are also accepted during regular business hours inside the lobby area of each Service Center, but do not use cash in a drop box.

Current year taxes may be paid in partial payments if the property owner enters into an agreement with the Tax Collector. Under that option, early-payment discounts are forfeited, the remaining balance must be tracked by the taxpayer, and the full amount must be paid by March 31 of the following year to avoid a tax certificate being sold on the property.

Discount periods and deadlines

Polk County applies early-payment discounts based on when the payment is made.

The discount is based on the mail postmark date, online payment date, or walk-in payment date. When a walk-in deadline falls on a weekend or observed holiday, the discount extends to the next working day.

Property tax assessments are made on January 1 each year. Property tax notices are mailed October 31. Taxes become delinquent on April 1 of the year following assessment.

Installment, deferral, and exemption information

Property owners who want to spread payments across the year can review the Tax Collector’s installment plan rules. To participate, an Application for Installment Payment of Property Taxes must be completed before May 1 of the tax year, and the previous year’s property taxes must have been more than $100.00. Current participants do not need to reapply and are automatically re-enrolled.

For qualifying homestead property owners, Polk County also provides a property tax deferral path. Form DR-570 must be submitted to the Tax Collector by March 31 of the year after assessment.

Questions about exemptions such as homestead, widow or widower, and disability exemptions are handled by the Property Appraiser rather than the Tax Collector. First-time exemption applications must be filed with the Property Appraiser by March 1 of the tax year.

Delinquency and tax sale information

Unpaid real estate property taxes become delinquent on April 1 of the year following the year of assessment. At that point, 3% interest and an advertising charge are added to the amount due.

If the taxes remain unpaid on or before June 1, a tax certificate is sold for the unpaid taxes, interest, and costs. After two years, the certificate holder may apply for a tax deed, which can lead to loss of title to the property.

Unpaid tangible personal property taxes also become delinquent on April 1 of the year following assessment. Tax warrants are issued in May on unpaid tangible personal property taxes, and after July 1 the Tax Collector may seek a court order for levy and seizure.

For more detail about timelines and sale procedures, review the Delinquency & Tax Sale Information page.

Property tax contacts

Use these Polk County Tax Collector contacts for Property Tax questions, payment help, and general assistance.

• Polk County Tax Collector
  Mailing address: P.O. Box 1189, Bartow, FL 33831-1189
  Phone: (863) 534-4700
  Call center hours: Monday Through Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  Chat hours: Monday Through Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM