Q. When are Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due?
A. Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes are due September 1st.
Q. When should taxes be paid to avoid interest?
A: To avoid having to pay interest, you must pay on or before January 5th.
Q. What is the interest after January 5th to January 31st?
A. The interest rate after January 5th until January 31st is 2% interest on the balance and 3/4% interest each month thereafter.
Q. What if I don't receive a tax bill?
A. A bill is generated and mailed for payment each year. You are responsible for payment even if you do not receive the bill. There are three common reasons for not receiving a bill:
- We do not have your correct address. Please make sure that you keep your address information current.
- Your tax bill was lost in the mail.
- If your property was purchased after January 1, the bill goes to the owner as of the first of the year.
Q. When taxes are delinquent, can you make payment arrangements?
A. Yes, but the arrangements have to be kept in order to avoid other collection action.
Q. When will property be advertised in the paper, and if I have made payment arrangements will the property still be advertised?
A. Property is usually advertised in March or April of each year and will be advertised even if you have payment arrangements. Taxes must be paid in full to avoid any advertisement. Please pay in full by February 28 to avoid advertisement.
Q: What action is taken if I don't pay my taxes or make payment arrangements?
A: The following actions will be taken if your taxes are not paid:
- Garnishment of wages
- Bank attachment
- Seizure of vehicle
- Seizure of Income Tax Refund
- Foreclosure of property
- Other measures as allowed by law
Q: What if I sold the property and still receive a tax bill?
A: Tax bills are mailed January 1st to the owner. You should forward the tax bill to the new owner.
Q: What if I receive a tax bill, but my mortgage company is supposed to pay the taxes?
A: Forward the bill you received to your mortgage company.
Q: What if I receive a tax bill on a vehicle I no longer own?
A: If the tag was turned in, the bill can be prorated. If the tag was transferred to another vehicle you will owe this bill and will receive a bill on the new vehicle after the tag is renewed.
Q: What information do you need to prorate taxes on a motor vehicle after it was sold?
A: You need to send us a receipt from the tag office showing when the tag was turned in. A copy of a bona fide bill of sale or other document clearly indicating that the vehicle has been sold or otherwise disposed of; or if you moved out of North Carolina, a copy of that state's current registration on the car.
Q: What is a tax block on vehicles?
A: When taxes are not paid by the first day of the fourth month after the bill becomes due, a tax block is placed on your DMV record that prevents you from renewing your tag until the tax is paid.
Q: If the vehicle does not run, do I still have to pay taxes?
A: Yes. If you do not tag the vehicle, it must be listed with the County Assessors Office.
Q: Can I wait to pay my car taxes when I pay my real estate taxes?
A: No, unless it is due within that same month. Otherwise, the bill must be paid in the designated month shown on the bill to avoid a registration block.
