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County Clerk
SHERRY KRUSE

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Address
E-Mail Addresses
Phone Numbers
Business Hours
300 S. Ninnescah, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 885
Pratt KS 67124
Office:
(620) 672-4110

FAX:
(620) 672-9541
Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Function of Department / Duties of the Clerk /
Election Office / Forms Available* /
Homestead Property Tax Refund / Food Sales Tax Refund /
Business Machinery and Equipment Tax Credit /
How to Claim Your Refund or Tax Credit /
Taxpayer Assistance / Frequently Asked Questions

*All forms available on this page must be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
This is a free download. If you have trouble accessing any forms,
request them from the County Clerk at
clerk@prattcounty.org


Function of Department

  • Combine all valuations for each tax district and certify values to each tax district and the state
  • 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

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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
 

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County Election Office

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  • 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
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Forms Available

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On linked web sites:

From Clerk's office:

  • Election forms
  • Homestead Tax forms
  • Kansas tax returns
  • Townships and cemetery reports
  • Moving permits for buildings-$1.00
  • Senior citizens sportsman cards
  • Alcohol beverage license applications

On Pratt 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
clerk@prattcounty.org

 


Adobe Acrobat Reader icon

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Homestead Property Tax Refund

Definition: A Property Tax refund for eligible homeowners and renters

To Qualify:
As a Kansas resident for all of the previous tax year, you are eligible at income tax time for a refund of up to $600 if your total "household income" is $27,000 or less, AND:

  • you are 55 years of age or older, OR
  • you were totally and permanently disabled or blind for the entire year, OR
  • you have a dependent child who lived with you the entire year who was born before January 1, and was under the age of 18 all of the previous year.

"Household income" means ALL taxable and non-taxable income received by all members of the household. Beginning with tax year 2005, 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:
Beginning with the 2005 K-40H Homestead Claim form, there is a question asking the homeowner whether they want their next year’s homestead advancement sent directly to their County Treasurer. If the box is checked on K-40H, the homestead advancement will be sent directly from Kansas Department of Revenue to the County Treasurer. This eliminates the need for the homestead claimant to physically deliver the homestead eligibility letter to the County Treasurer.

If you checked the Homestead Refund Advancement Program box when you filed your Kansas Homestead Claim your homestead advancement information will be electronically transferred to the County Treasurer.  By checking this box you requested the Department of Revenue to electronically transfer your homestead advancement information directly to the County Treasurer rather than mailing you the Certificate of Eligibility which you then had to deliver to the County Treasurer. The Certificate of Eligibility letter is no longer being used.  If you do not check this box, you can not participate in the homestead advancement program. In which case, none of your homestead refund will be used to pay your property taxes. Important: You must still file a Homestead Refund Claim, Form K-40H between January 1 and April 15 of each year.

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Food Sales Tax Refund

To Qualify:
If you were a Kansas resident for all of the previous tax year, you are eligible if your Kansas adjusted gross income (KAGI) plus certain interest and retirement benefits exempt from Kansas taxation is $27,600 or less, AND:

  • you are 55 years of age or older, OR
  • you were totally and permanently disabled or blind all of the previous tax year, OR
  • you have a dependent child you claim as a personal exemption who was born before January 1 and was under the age of 18 all of the previous tax year.

Amount of Food Sales Tax Refund:

If your income (KAGI) is:

Your refund is:
$0 - $13,800 $72 for each exemption
$13,801 - $27,600 $36 for each exemption


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 2005 (calendar year), the last half of 2004 property taxes paid by May 10, 2005, 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
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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. 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; if you rent, you will need the amount of rent you paid for that tax year and name and address of your landlord.

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. No

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 Pratt County?
A. 9,496

Q. What is the population of the city of Pratt?
A. 6,447

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

Byers 50
Coats 111
Cullison 97
Iuka 184
Preston 162
Sawyer 122

 

Q. What is the Homestead Refund and who is eligible?

A. The Homestead Refund is a rebate program for the property taxes paid by homeowners and renters. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a Kansas resident’s homestead. If you own your home, the refund is a percentage of your general property tax. If you rent your home, 20% of the rent paid for occupancy is used as the property tax amount. The maximum refund is $600.

To qualify you must be a Kansas resident, living in Kansas the entire year. Your total household income must be $27,000 or less.

You must also meet one of the following requirements:

  • Be 55 years of age or older, OR
  • Be blind or disabled, OR
  • Have a dependent child under 18 who lived with you all year whom you claim as a personal exemption

Q. How can I use my Homestead Refund to help pay up to half of my property tax?
A. Beginning with the 2005 K-40H Homestead Claim form, there is a question asking the homeowner whether they want their next year’s homestead advancement sent directly to their County Treasurer. If the box is checked on the 2005 K-40H, the 2006 homestead advancement will be sent directly from Kansas Department of Revenue to the County Treasurer. This eliminates the need for the homestead claimant to physically deliver the homestead eligibility letter to the County Treasurer.

If you checked the Homestead Refund Advancement Program box when you filed your 2005 Kansas Homestead Claim your homestead advancement information will be electronically transferred to the County Treasurer.  By checking this box you requested the Department of Revenue to electronically transfer your 2006 homestead advancement information directly to the County Treasurer rather than mailing you the Certificate of Eligibility which you then had to deliver to the County Treasurer. The Certificate of Eligibility letter is no longer being used.  If you do not check this box, you can not participate in the 2006 homestead advancement program. In which case, none of your 2006 homestead refund will be used to pay your 2006 property taxes.

Q. Who is eligible for the Food Sales Tax Refund?

A. To qualify you must be a Kansas resident, living in Kansas the entire year. Your Kansas qualifying income must be $27,600 or less. The refund is claimed on the Kansas Individual Income Tax Return.

You must also meet one of the following requirements:

  • Be 55 years of age or older, OR
  • Be blind or disabled, OR
  • Have a dependent child under 18 who lived with you all year whom you claim as a personal exemption

Q. How much is the Food Sales Tax Refund?
A.

If your income (KAGI) is:

Your refund is:
$0 - $13,800 $72 for each exemption
$13,801 - $27,600 $36 for each exemption

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