La Plata County gives you three ways to pay a property tax bill, and only one date to miss. Most owners split the bill in half. A few pay it all at once in spring. Either way, the Treasurer's Office in Durango sets the calendar, and the date on the bill is the one that counts.
When are La Plata County property taxes due?
The Treasurer's FAQ page lists the three deadlines:
- First half: the last day of February
- Second half: June 15
- Full amount: the last day of April
The county labels each bill by tax year and by the year it is payable. For example, the 2025 tax year is payable in 2026. One calendar quirk for next season: Feb. 28, 2027 lands on a Sunday, so ask the Treasurer how a weekend deadline is handled before you wait for the last minute.
How do I pay my La Plata County property tax?
You can pay online through the county's payment portal, by mail or in person. The county's Treasurer page gives the details:
- Mail: LPC Treasurer, PO Box 99, Durango, CO 81302 (the mailing address changed, so old envelopes may be wrong)
- In person: 679 Turner Drive, Suite B, Durango, CO 81303
- Phone: (970) 382-6352
- Neighbors: the Assessor is in Suite A and the Clerk and Recorder is in Suite C, so one trip covers taxes, plates and records
- Escrow: if your mortgage company pays the bill, the Treasurer advises verifying that your lender has all the right account information
What if I never got a tax bill?
Notices go out as soon as practical after January 1. A missing bill does not excuse a missing payment, because the Treasurer states that the owner is responsible for the tax, interest and fees whether or not a notice arrives. Moved recently? Written address changes can go to either the Assessor's or the Treasurer's office.
How do I look up what I owe?
Use the county's online property tax account search. The Treasurer's page walks through it: open the search, accept the statement, choose the public login, then type an account number or owner name. Your balance and receipts show under the summary.
Not sure of your account number? Our answer on looking up property records in La Plata County shows how to find it by address.
What changed on the 2026 tax statement?
Colorado now uses two residential assessment rates. For the 2025 tax year, payable in 2026, the Treasurer lists 7.05% for school district taxes and 6.25% for all other local government taxes. Because one home now has two rates, the assessed value no longer prints on the statement. Find it on the Assessor's website under your account.
What happens if my taxes are delinquent?
Call the Treasurer first, at (970) 382-6352, to get the exact total with interest and fees. Delinquent payments must be certified funds or cash, meaning a cashier's check, a money order or cash. The office warns not to send cash through the mail. If a tax lien exists on the account, only the owner can redeem it unless a notarized Affidavit for Redemption is completed, and the payment must cover the full amount.
Do seniors have to pay property tax in La Plata County?
Seniors receive a tax bill like everyone else, but some qualify for a state exemption processed by the county Assessor. According to the Assessor's senior exemption page, a qualifying senior generally:
- Is at least 65 on January 1 of the application year
- Has owned the home as the owner of record for 10 consecutive years before that January 1
- Has lived in it as a primary residence for the same 10 years
The application deadline is July 15, and the Assessor takes no applications from Aug. 16 through Dec. 31. Disabled veteran and Gold Star spouse exemptions carry a July 1 deadline. File with the La Plata County Assessor at 679 Turner Drive, Suite A, or call 970-382-6228. This is the county's description, not tax advice, so ask the Assessor about your own situation.
Is that text about my home auction real?
No. The Treasurer's Office put out a warning about a scam, and the details are worth knowing:
- Texts claim an auction date for your property is coming, from a sender calling itself "GMD Management"
- The office says it does not send auction notices, financial alerts or similar information by text
- The county's advice is to disregard the messages, share no personal details and contact local law enforcement if you were targeted