Tax Collector

Real & Personal Property Taxes

The tax rate for fiscal year 2023-2024 is $0.61 per $100 of valuation.

Property Tax bills are mailed in August and are due by September 1 each year. These bills must be paid by January 5th of the following year to avoid interest and additional penalties. If the 5th falls on a weekend, you have through the next business day. After January 5 all past due accounts are assessed an interest charge of 2% on January 6 and an additional 0.75% is added on the 1st day of each month thereafter until the bill is paid in full. If January 5th falls on the weekend, you will have the following business day to pay without penalty.

Transfer Letters/New Owner Letters are mailed to new owners only if there is a balance due on the taxes.  These letters go out at the end of November.

Escrow

If you have an escrow account with a mortgage company, the bill will be mailed to you and the mortgage company will be notified electronically. To ensure that payment is made, please forward a copy of your bill to your mortgage company.

Partial Payments & Prepayments

Taxpayers are allowed to make partial payments on their tax bill as long as it is paid in full by January 5.

Taxpayers may make prepayments to their accounts for real property at any time during the year. Many taxpayers make regular monthly payments year round as it is easier to budget for monthly payments than having to pay a large amount at the end of the year.

Address Changes

Please notify the tax office when a change in your mailing address occurs. You may send address changes to either of the email addresses to the right. Please provide an account or parcel number along with the correct mailing address.

Note: A secure drop box is available for tax payments at the top of the handicap ramp on the side of the Courthouse.

Delinquent Taxes

During the month of April, unpaid real estate taxes will be advertised in the newspaper and an advertising fee will be added to the unpaid bill. Delinquent taxes are required to be advertised in the name of the owner as of the date the taxes became delinquent. Enforced collections may begin at any time after bills become delinquent. Legal remedies of collection may include:

  • Garnishment of wages or rents
  • Attachment of bank accounts
  • Debt setoff of NC Income tax refunds
  • Debt setoff of NC Lottery winnings
  • Levy on rents and/or other money due you
  • Seizure of vehicle or other personal property
  • Foreclosure

PLEASE NOTE: 

REAL PROPERTY: After all available collection remedies have been exhausted, unpaid Real Property tax bills will be turned over to the Foreclosure Officer to process a Judgment of Foreclosure. This can occur even if only 1 year is delinquent...

PERSONAL PROPERTY: Unpaid Vehicle tax bills and Personal Property tax bills issued in 2013 and earlier have already been sent to a Collection Agency and have been reported to the Credit Reporting Agencies to be listed in your credit file. Personal Property may include Mobile Homes, Boats, Unregistered Motor Vehicles, Aircraft and/or Business Assets.

VEHICLE TAXES

Vehicle taxes are included on your tag renewal statement and are paid when you renew your tag. Find more info at NC Division of Motor Vehicles. Delinquent vehicle taxes that were billed in 2013 or earlier are still paid at the tax office. Gap auto bills are also paid at the tax office.

Other Resources