Forms Available On linked web sites: Requests for birth or death records Budget forms From Clerk's office: Election forms Homestead Tax forms Kansas tax returns Senior citizens sportsman cards On Stevens County Web Site To view and/or print these forms, you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. To get this free download, click on the icon below. If you have trouble accessing these forms, request them from the County Clerk's office at (620) 544-2541 Birth Certificate Request Death Certificate Request top of page

Function of Department Combine all valuations for each tax district and certify values to each tax district and the state Assist with preparation of township and cemetery budgets and annual reports Audit all budgets and file with the state Compute all tax levies and prepare levy sheets Prepare real estate, personal property and state assessed tax roll and certify to County Treasurer Prepare added and abated taxes to original tax statement/tax roll Prepare Homestead and Food Sales Tax returns Issue moving permits Maintain tax unit maps of the county Balance and certify distribution of motor vehicle taxes to County Treasurer Accumulate and file a bonded indebtedness report of all county tax entities top of page Duties of Clerk SECRETARY TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Keep County Commissioners' official records   BOOKKEEPING Process accounts payable for all county department Process county payroll and prepare all reports necessary Duplicate ledgers to the County Treasurer Maintain duplicate check registers and balance check book PERSONNEL Maintain personnel files Prepare ads for vacant positions Distribute and collect applications for all county vacancies Maintain copy of current county policy and job descriptions   REAL ESTATE Record transfer of ownership from deeds, probates, divorce decrees, death certificates, etc. Maintain a file of real estate by address, legal description, and name   WILD LIFE & PARKS Issue Fish & Game licenses, large game permits, stamps, park permits, and boat registration Prepare reports to Wildlife & Parks and the State Treasurer of Sales top of page

County Election Office

• Voter registration site
• Maintain registration database
• Verify registration validity
• Generate registration list and reports
• Accept filings for public office
• Prepare newspaper publications for elections
• Assist with selection of election board workers
• Prepare ballots
• Make available advanced voting for voters
• Prepare results and provisional ballots for County Board of Canvassers
• Certify election results to the public and Secretary of State
• Prepare Certificate of Nomination and Certificate of Election forms
• Record all election results in permanent record

 

Homestead Property Tax Refund

Definition: A Property Tax refund for eligible homeowners and renters

To Qualify:
As a Kansas resident for all of 2001, you are eligible at income tax time for a refund of up to $600 if your total "household income" is $25,000 or less, AND:

• you were born before January 1, 1946, OR
• you were totally and permanently disabled or blind for the entire year of 2000, OR
• you have a dependent child who lived with you the entire year who was born before January 1, 2001, and was under the age of 18 all of 2001.

"Household income" means ALL taxable and non-taxable income received by all members of the household. Beginning with tax year 2000, Social Security disability payments are not included in "household income."

To use an expected homestead refund to help pay up to half of property taxes:
Homeowners who received a homestead refund last year and do not have any outstanding balances with the Kansas Department of Revenue will automatically receive a Refund Advancement Letter and Form ELG from the department. To have your advancement amount applied to the first half of your property taxes, take these letters and your 2001 property tax statement to your county clerk's office by December 20, 2001. Important: You must still file a Homestead Refund Claim, Form K-40H between January 1, 2002 and April 15, 2002.

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Food Sales Tax Refund

To Qualify:
If you were a Kansas resident all of 2001, you are eligible if your Kansas adjusted gross income (KAGI) plus certain interest and retirement benefits exempt from Kansas taxation is $25,000 or less, AND:

• you were born before January 1, 1947, OR
• you were totally and permanently disabled or blind all of 2001, OR
• you have a dependent child you claim as a personal exemption who was born before January 1, 2001, and was under the age of 18 all of 2001.

Amount of Food Sales Tax Refund:

Business Machinery and Equipment Tax Credit

Definition:
An income tax credit equal to 15% of the personal property tax paid on qualified machinery and equipment

To Qualify:
You are eligible if you paid personal property tax on qualified business machinery and equipment without incurring any late payment penalties and you are a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Company, or other business organization filing an income tax return. Financial institutions filing a Kansas privilege tax return, and insurance companies paying the insurance company premiums tax are also eligible for this credit.

"Qualified machinery and equipment" means items required to be listed for property taxation on Schedule 2, Schedule 5, or Schedule 6 of the rendition. Items that DO NOT qualify for the credit include motor vehicles, personal property owned by a public utility, and property not used for a business purpose.

The basis for the credit is the personal property tax timely paid on business machinery and equipment during the tax year. Example: For tax year 2004 (calendar year), the last half of 2003 property taxes paid by May 10, 2004, and the 2004 property tax paid by December 20, 2004, is the basis of the credit.

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How to Claim Your Refund or Tax Credit

Homestead Refund:
Complete a Kansas Homestead Claim, Form K-40H and mail it to the Kansas Department of Revenue anytime from January 1 through April 15.

Food Sales Tax Refund:
Complete the Food Sales Tax Refund portions of the Kansas Individual Income Tax and/or Food Sales Tax Refund return, Form K-40. If you filed a Form K-40 last year, you may use one of our paperless lifing options, TeleFile or PC File, to obtain a faster refund.

Business Machinery and Equipment Tax Credit:
Complete Schedule K-64, "Business Machinery and Equipment Tax Credit" and enclose it with your tax return along with a copy of your personal property tax receipt. If your paid receipt does not separate the tax paid on qualified property from other personal property taxes paid, obtain a breakdown of the tax paid on qualifying property from the county.

Forms are available from the Kansas Department of Revenue, driver's license exam stations, and other places of convenience throughout the state. Forms also may be ordered from the Kansas Department of Revenue's voice mail forms request line at (785) 296-4937, or download from our web page at www.ink.org/public/kdor.

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Taxpayer Assistance

Assistance and additional information on these tax refunds and credits are available from the Kansas Department of Revenue, Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison St., 1st Floor, Topeka, KS 66625. In Topeka call (785) 368-8222; outside Topeka call toll free: 1-877-526-7738; Hearing-Impaired TTYL (785) 296-6461. Information and forms are also available from the department's web page at www.ink.org/public/kdor.

Homestead and Food Sales Tax Refund assistance is available from your county clerk or from free volunteer tax assistance programs. Contact you local Department on Aging, Community Action Program, senior center, library, or county clerk for information on availability in your area.

For assistance in determining the amount of personal property taxes paid on commercial and industrial machinery and equipment, contact your county officials.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where do I register to vote:
A. The County Clerk's office or at the Driver's License Examiner's office when you renew your license. Sometimes political organizations set up booths at local businesses close to election time at which you can register also.

Q. Where can I buy a hunting or fishing license?
A. The County Clerk's office / various vendors / Wild Life & Parks

Q. What information do I need to file my Homestead Return and my Food Sales Tax Return?
A. Total household income, including Social Security, and a copy of tax statement

Q. When can I expect my Homestead and Food Sales Tax refund?
A. It usually takes about six weeks.

Q. How do I find out who owns a certain piece of property?
A. Bring the legal description or address to the Clerk's office.

Q. Do we have county zoning?
A. Yes, Contact the Zoning & Planning Department

Q. Who takes care of the little cemeteries?
A. Call the County Clerk's office for this answer. They are all handled by different people.

Q. What is the population of Stevens County ?
A. 5,379

Q. What is the population of cities in the county?
A.

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