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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Ziebach County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Ziebach County, SD. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

10 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
~0.50% effective rate (varies by school district, township, and special districts)
Exemptions
4+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Ziebach County property taxes are administered by the county assessor and treasurer's office to fund essential local services including schools, county government operations, and various special districts. The property tax system in Ziebach County operates on a mill levy basis, where one mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Property owners in the county face an effective tax rate of approximately 0.50% for the 2025 levy year, though this represents a baseline rate that can vary significantly based on your specific location within the county.

Actual property tax bills vary considerably throughout Ziebach County due to the presence of different school districts, townships, municipalities, and special taxing districts that each impose their own mill levies. These additional levies for services such as fire protection, water districts, or infrastructure improvements are layered on top of the base county rate. Property owners should expect their total effective rate to differ from the baseline 0.50% depending on which combination of taxing jurisdictions serve their specific property location.

South Dakota assesses property at its full market value without assessment caps, meaning your assessed value should reflect the current market value of your property. The county conducts regular reassessments to maintain current valuations, and property owners have appeal rights if they believe their assessment is incorrect.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate (per $1,000)Description
County General FundVariableBasic county operations, sheriff, courts, roads
School District General$1.197 - $5.544K-12 education (varies by property type)
School Special EducationUp to $1.488Special education services
Township/MunicipalityVariableLocal government services where applicable
Fire DistrictVariableFire protection services where applicable
Other Special DistrictsVariableWater, sewer, library, or other local services

Rates shown are for the 2025 levy year and are subject to annual adjustment by the South Dakota Legislature. Agricultural property receives the lowest school mill levy ($1.197), owner-occupied residential property has a moderate rate ($2.679), and non-agricultural property faces the highest rate ($5.544). School districts may opt out of these legislative limitations, potentially resulting in higher rates. Your actual total rate depends on which combination of taxing jurisdictions serve your property.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Ziebach County, property taxes are due in two installments:

Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental taxes in Ziebach County are additional property tax assessments that occur when there are changes to property ownership, new construction, or improvements that weren't captured in the regular assessment cycle. These situations trigger a recalculation of the property's assessed value and corresponding tax liability for the current tax year.

Common triggers for supplemental taxes include the purchase of property that was previously exempt, completion of new construction or major renovations, changes in property use classification, or corrections to assessment errors discovered mid-year. The supplemental tax is calculated based on the difference between the new assessed value and the original assessed value, multiplied by the applicable mill levy rate, prorated for the portion of the tax year remaining.

For example, if you complete a $100,000 home addition in June and your total mill levy rate is 15 mills (1.5%), the supplemental tax would be calculated as: ($100,000 ÷ 1,000) × 15 mills × (6 months remaining ÷ 12 months) = $750. Supplemental tax bills are typically issued separately from regular tax bills and have their own payment due dates established by the county treasurer.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home (Owner-Occupied with Homestead Credit)

  • Market/Assessed Value: $300,000
  • Homestead Credit Applied: Caps assessment increases (application required)
  • Net Taxable Value: $300,000
  • Estimated Mill Rate: 12 mills (1.2%)
  • Annual Tax: $3,600
  • Monthly Escrow: $300

Example 2: $600,000 Home (Owner-Occupied with Veterans Credit)

  • Market/Assessed Value: $600,000
  • Veterans Property Tax Credit: Reduces tax bill (application required)
  • Net Taxable Value: $600,000
  • Estimated Mill Rate: 12 mills (1.2%)
  • Annual Tax Before Credits: $7,200
  • Annual Tax After Veterans Credit: ~$6,900 (varies)
  • Monthly Escrow: $575

Example 3: $1,000,000 Property (Non-Agricultural, No Credits)

  • Market/Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Credits Applied: None
  • Net Taxable Value: $1,000,000
  • Estimated Mill Rate: 18 mills (1.8%) - higher due to non-agricultural classification
  • Annual Tax: $18,000
  • Monthly Escrow: $1,500

All tax credits require separate applications and approval. Rates shown are estimates and actual rates vary by specific location within Ziebach County based on applicable taxing districts.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Ziebach County require borrowers to maintain an escrow account for property taxes, collecting monthly payments as part of your mortgage payment to ensure taxes are paid on time. Your lender calculates the monthly escrow amount by estimating your annual property tax bill and dividing by 12, often adding a small cushion to account for potential increases. Since Ziebach County property taxes are due in December, lenders typically make payments on your behalf by the December 31st deadline.

Lenders are required to provide annual escrow analysis statements showing how your escrow funds were used and any adjustments needed for the coming year. If your property taxes increase due to rising assessments or mill levy changes, your lender may increase your monthly escrow payment or require a one-time payment to cover any shortfall. Conversely, if taxes decrease or if excess funds accumulate, you may receive a refund.

Property owners should verify that their lender has current tax information, especially after reassessments or if you've applied for tax credits. You can confirm your tax payments were received by checking with the Ziebach County Treasurer's office. If you pay taxes directly without escrow, ensure you budget for the full annual amount due in December to avoid penalties and interest charges.

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Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are property taxes due in Ziebach County for the current fiscal year? A: Property taxes are due December 31st for the 2025 tax year. Payments received after this date are subject to penalties and interest charges.

Q: What tax credits are available and do they require applications? A: Available tax credits may include homestead credits for owner-occupied properties, veterans property tax credits, and elderly/disabled credits. All tax credits require separate applications and are not automatically applied. Contact the Ziebach County Assessor's office for specific credit applications and eligibility requirements.

Q: How does the homestead credit work? A: The homestead credit doesn't reduce your property's market value but instead caps annual assessment increases for owner-occupied homes. You must file an application with the county assessor to receive this benefit, and it must be renewed periodically as required by county policy.

Q: How often are properties reassessed and can I appeal my assessment? A: South Dakota conducts regular reassessments to maintain current market values. If you believe your assessment is incorrect, you can appeal to the county board of equalization. Appeals must be filed within specific timeframes following assessment notices.

Q: What are the penalties for late property tax payments? A: Late payments incur penalties and interest charges that begin accruing after the December 31st due date. Contact the Ziebach County Treasurer's office for current penalty rates and payment options.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Payment options vary by county. Contact the Ziebach County Treasurer's office to confirm available payment methods, including online options, and any associated processing fees.

Q: Why did my tax bill increase when my mill rate stayed the same? A: Tax increases can result from higher property assessments due to rising market values, new special district levies, or changes in property classification. Even with stable mill rates, increased assessed values lead to higher tax bills.

Q: How do special district taxes affect my bill? A: Special districts for fire protection, libraries, water systems, or other services each impose separate mill levies. Your total tax rate depends on which districts serve your property location, which is why rates vary significantly within Ziebach County.

Verified Sources

Backed by 10 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
Tax Doc
Property Tax Briefingmylrc.sdlegislature.gov
02
Tax Doc
Tax-Rates.org — The 2024-2025 Tax Resourcemylrc.sdlegislature.gov
03
Tax Doc
Calculating the Dollars Needed to Reduce Property Taxesmylrc.sdlegislature.gov
04
Tax Doc
South Dakota Property Tax Information Guide - MyLRCmylrc.sdlegislature.gov
05
Tax Doc
Property Tax | South Dakota Department of Revenuedor.sd.gov
06
Tax Doc
IRS announces tax relief for South Dakota victims of winter ...irs.gov
07
Codified Law 28-13 | South Dakota Legislaturesdlegislature.gov
08
Tax Doc
Property Tax Rebate Information - 71 results - Dakota At Homedakotaathome.sd.gov
09
Federal funds data for 2010ers.usda.gov
10
County
Exhibits and Appendices to County Revenues and ...mylrc.sdlegislature.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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