Tag Archive for: #vancecountytaxoffice

Relief Programs For Qualified Homeowners May Reduce Sting From Tax Bill

/by

The deadline to appeal 2024 property tax valuations has passed, and technically, so has the deadline for qualified homeowners to try to get some relief from those tax bills, due before Jan. 6, 2025 to avoid a 2 percent interest penalty.

June 1 was the deadline to appeal – and apparently to apply for the three programs listed on the Vance County Tax Office website, according to Vance County Deputy Tax Assessor Jennifer Williams.

“After that date, the Tax Office cannot approve or deny any applications, but citizens can appeal their late applications to the Board (of Commissioners) up until the end of the calendar year for which they are applying,” Williams explained in a response to a question sent via email to the tax office late last week.

Commissioners Chair Dan Brummitt said that, to his knowledge, the board has “never denied a senior, veteran, exemption. Folks don’t always see the dates, so we try to work with people,” Brummitt told WIZS News.

The 2024 tax bills were sent out in late August, following the most recent property revaluation required by the state to be completed at least every eight years. The last property revaluation in Vance County was completed in 2016. Some property owners have seen a significant increase over last year’s bill, and the county wants to make sure that eligible homeowners know about the three programs offered.

Below are details of those programs:

  • Elderly or disabled exclusion – this program is for homeowners at least 65 years old or who are totally or permanently disabled and whose 2023 income was $36,700 or less. The program excludes from taxation the first $25,000 or half (whichever is greater) of the assessed value of the permanent residence.
  • The circuit breaker tax deferment program limits the amount of annual property tax the owner owes. Taxes above a certain amount are deferred, but will be due – with interest – if there is a disqualifying event. This program requires the recipient apply each year; if annual income is $36,700 or less, taxes will be limited to 4 percent of  total income. If income is between $36,700 and $55,050, that limit is 5 percent.
  • A program for disabled veterans – or the unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran – excludes up to the first $45,000 of the appraised value of a permanent residence. For purposes of this program, a disabled veteran is defined as a veteran “whose character of service at separation was honorable or under honorable conditions, and who has a total and permanent service-connected disability or who received benefits for specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101.” Although there is no age or income requirement for this program, part of the application must be completed by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. For more info, about veterans services, visit  vancecounty.org … and click on departments and go to veterans-service-office

Find details on the three programs at:  www.vancecounty.org and click on departments then click on tax-overview and go to property-tax-relief-programs.

Or call the tax office at 252.738-2040 or email taxoffice@vancecounty.org.

Click Play!

 

Revaluation Notices Are Hitting Property Owners’ Mailboxes

/by

Vance County Tax Administration recently mailed its 2024 revaluation notices to all residential and commercial property owners which provides an updated appraisal of all real property in Vance County to its current market value as of Jan. 1, 2024 per state requirements.

The state statutes also allow property owners the right to appeal if they feel the market value established does not reflect true market value. Citizens must file such appeal by June 3,2024. To learn more about the revaluation and appeal process visit www.vancecounty.org. On the homepage, click on Departments  and then find Tax Administration Office in the drop-down box.

“I highly recommend, should a citizen wish to appeal, they should visit our website, review the data, and, should they disagree, file the appeal ahead of the deadline of June 3, 2024,” stated Tax Administrator Porcha Brooks.  The notices mailed to property owners, in fact, suggests that appeals be filed by May 28 to make sure there is adequate time for scheduling.

“We would like to engage in conversations with our citizens quickly, answer any questions and/or address their concerns,” Brooks said. “I would also like to apologize for the link within the notice that is not currently taking citizens to the correct location of our website. We have ensured a link is located on the County Home Page to help citizens navigate through the process,” she added.

There’s a website listed on the notice where property owners can search for comparable properties and their appraised value that property owners may find useful.

Any property owner who wants to appeal the appraised value because it’s not a reasonable estimate must file an appeal before Monday, June 3, 2024 at https://www.vancecounty.org/ departments/tax-overview/vance-appeal-app/.

Contact the tax office at 252.738.2040 or email taxoffice@vancecounty.org to learn more about the process. County staff anticipate that many of the appeals will be handled during the informal appeals period, but if not, property owners will appear before the county’s Equalization & Review board for a formal appeals process.

If an agreement isn’t reached during this formal appeals process, property owners have 30 days from the date of the E&R board’s written decision to file an appeal with the N.C. Property Tax Commission in Raleigh.

 

 

 

Vance County Logo

Property Revaluations Hit County Mailboxes In February

/by

Vance County property owners will find revaluation information in their mailboxes next month, which will provide information about current market value of homes, as well as business and industrial properties. But it will be later in the year before they’ll know just how that market value calculation will affect their tax bills.

Individual property owners’ bills could go up, go down, or stay about the same – the somewhat fuzzy picture will come into focus as elected officials nail down a budget for next year. Just because your home’s current market value goes up – and it most likely will go up – does not mean that your tax bill will go up, too.

The new values took effect Jan. 1, and tax bills will go out in July. But it won’t be until June that the new tax rate will be determined.

The tax rate is what elected city and county officials will decide on when they’re calculating how much money will be needed to pay for schools, public safety, human services and more.

If the total market value of all the appraised properties increases, that means the county’s overall tax base increases. And that could mean that your tax bill stays pretty much the same, despite the fact that your property’s market value increased.

The county contracted with Vincent Valuations LLC to complete the appraisal, which included every single property in the county. State law requires counties to undertake the revaluation at least every 8 years; the last one completed in Vance County was in 2016.

In addition to complying with state law, a revaluation is necessary to maintain equitable and uniform property values among property owners throughout the county, according to a report prepared by the Vance County Tax Office.

Market value is “the most probable or most likely price that the property would sell for,” the report explained.  It is not the highest or the lowest or an average price.

Appraisers look at everything from square footage, building dimensions, type of construction and condition to help determine market value. They also consider heating and cooling systems, plumbing, the age of a building and its usefulness when making their calculations.

Revaluation is done on all residential, commercial and industrial land and structures but not on personal property like motor vehicles and boats, whose market value is adjusted each year

If a property owner reviews the revaluation notification and disagrees with the market value figure, there is a process to appeal.

The tax office report listed several examples of valid – and invalid – reasons to appeal the decision.

Property owners may choose to appeal if the market value “substantially exceeds” the actual market value of the property, or if the market value is inconsistent with the market value of similar properties within the same neighborhood.

It’s not enough, however, to state that the figure is too high or more than the insurance value of the property. Those aren’t valid reasons, the report states.

Individuals who wish to appeal should complete an informal appeal form and return it via U.S. Postal Service, fax or email.

Mail completed forms to:

Vance County Tax Office

Attn: Revaluation

122 Young St. Suite E

Henderson, NC 27536

 

Completed forms may be faxed to  252.738.2059 or emailed to taxoffice@vancecounty.org.

Important Individual, Business Personal Property Tax Reminders & Deadlines

/by

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy the Vance County Tax Office

The Vance County Tax Office announces important individual personal property and business personal property tax deadlines for the 2019 tax year. The office is located at 122 Young Street, Suite E in Henderson, inside the County Administration building. For additional information, please visit the tax administration’s website (click here).

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

January 6, 2020: Last day to pay before interest is added. 2% interest will be added beginning January 7 and an additional 3/4 to 1% each month thereafter.

January 1 – January 31: Application period for Exemptions and Present Use Value

January 1 – June 1: Application period for Tax Relief Programs

North Carolina offers three property tax relief programs for the permanent residence of qualified homeowners. A permanent residence includes the dwelling, dwelling site (up to one acre) and related improvements.

  • Elderly or Disabled Exclusion: Applicants must be 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled. In addition, the total income for 2019 for both an applicant and spouse cannot exceed $31,000. For unmarried joint property owners, each owner must apply separately and benefit limitations may apply based on the percent of ownership.
  • Disabled Veteran Exclusion: 100% total and permanent service-connected disabled Veterans, discharged under honorable conditions, or their unmarried surviving spouse, may be eligible for a reduction in property tax. There is no age or income limitation on this program.
  • Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program: Applicants must be 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled. The total income for 2019 for both an applicant and spouse cannot exceed $46,500. For unmarried joint property owners, each owner must apply and qualify separately. In addition, all owners must have owned and occupied the residence for the past five years. Application must be made each year. Deferred taxes are a lien on the property. Three years of deferred taxes will become due upon a disqualifying event. 

Individual Personal Property

North Carolina General Statutes require all individuals owning personal property on January 1 of each year to annually list that property which is subject to taxation. The listing period is from January 1 through January 31.

Individual Personal Property includes:

  • Unlicensed vehicles (those not having an active NC registration on January 1)
  • Boats, Boat Motors, Jet Skis, etc.
  • Mobile Homes
  • Aircraft
  • Vehicles with permanent multiyear tags issued by the NCDMV

Business Personal Property

Business Personal Property is all property used in connection with the operation and production of income that has not been classified as real property. Any individual or business owning or possessing personal property used with a business or other income-producing purpose (ex: rental homes) is responsible for completing a listing form by January 31 unless they have been granted an extension. Extensions may be requested in writing before January 31 and the extension will be granted until April 15. By law, no extension can be granted beyond April 15.

Business Personal Property includes:

  • Machinery and equipment
  • Fixtures and furniture
  • Computers
  • Leasehold improvements
  • Construction in progress
  • Supplies
  • Expensed items

If you received a listing form in the previous year, one will automatically be mailed to you at the last address of record. You should receive this preprinted form by the end of December or the first week of January. If you do not receive the form and have property that requires listing, it is your responsibility to obtain and complete a Personal Property Listing form.

Vance County Logo

Report Personal Property, Improvements to Real Property by Jan. 31

/by

List Your Personal Property & Changes To Your Real Estate – Jan. 1, 2019 – Jan. 31, 2019

The Vance County Board of Commissioners has adopted a Permanent Listing System for all real property, BUT NOT PERSONAL PROPERTY.

  1. Real property owners are no longer required to list their real property with the Tax Administrator each January, however, property owners must continue during January to report any improvements or changes to real property since the last listing period. Failure to report improvements or changes since the last listing period requires a late list penalty per N.C. General Statutes 105-308.
  2. All taxable personal property, except tagged motor vehicles and tagged trailers, is still required to be listed as before and is also still subject to a late list penalty.
  3. You must continue to list individual personal property. Listing forms will be mailed to all individuals who listed previously: (a) mobile homes, (b) untagged/unregistered motor vehicles, (c) boats, (d) boat motors, (e) airplanes, and (f) improvements or changes to the real property.
  4. You must continue to list business personal property (down to the last 15x20x1 air filters you have on your property). Special forms will be mailed to all known businesses. If you own a business and do not receive a form, you may obtain a form by visiting the Tax Office, 122 Young St., Suite E., Henderson, NC 27536. Business personal property listings are subject to an audit.
  5. Anyone not receiving a listing form that has personal property to list or changes in real property may obtain a form by calling 252-738-2040. Forms are available within the Tax Office located at 122 Young St., Suite E., Henderson, NC 27536 or at www.vancecounty.org.
  6. FAILURE TO LIST PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REPORT IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES TO THE REAL PROPERTY WILL RESULT IN A 10% PENALTY.
  7. PLEASE MAKE SURE THE TAX OFFICE HAS YOUR E-911 ADDRESS. Failure to receive a tax bill due to bad addresses does not eliminate the tax lien.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR ELDERLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED PERSONS

  1. ELDERLY OR DISABLED EXCLUSION (G.S. 105-277.1): This program excludes the greater of the first $25,000 or 50% of the appraisal value of the permanent residence of a qualifying owner. A qualifying owner must be either 65 years of age by January 1, 2018, or be totally and permanently disabled. The owner cannot have a gross income for the previous year that exceeds the income eligibility limit for the current year, which for the 2018 tax year is $30,200.
  2.  DISABLED VETERAN EXCLUSION (G.S. 105-277.1C): This program excludes up to the first $45,000 of the appraised value of the permanent residence if an honorable discharge veteran who has a total and permanent disability that is service-connected or who receives benefits for specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101. There is no age or income limitation for this program. This benefit is also available to the unmarried surviving spouse of an honorably discharged veteran.
  3. CIRCUIT BREAKER TAX DEFERMENT PROGRAM (G.S. 105-277.1B): Under this program taxes for each year are limited to a percentage of the qualifying owner’s income. A qualifying owner must either be at least 65 years of age or be totally and permanently disabled. For an owner whose income amount for the previous year does not exceed the income eligibility limit for the current year, which for the 2018 tax year is $30,200, the owner’s taxes will be limited to four percent (4%) of the owner’s income. For an owner whose income exceeds the income eligibility limit ($30,200) but does not exceed 150% of the income eligibility limit, which for the 2019 tax year is $45,300, the owner’s taxes will be limited to five percent (5%) of the owner’s income.

Citizens who may apply for the property tax relief programs may acquire forms by visiting the Tax Office at 122 Young St., Suite E. or by calling 252-738-2040. Applications are required to be returned to the Tax Assessor no later than June 3, 2019.

AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND FOREST LAND-APPLICATION FOR TAXATION AT PRESENT USE VALUE G.S. 105.277.4

If your land was in the farm deferment program in 2018 and your acreage has changed, you must reapply during January 2019 or within 30 days of the date on the “Notice of Change of Value” to remain in the program and avoid the roll back payment of deferred taxes. If you acquired land in 2018 that was in the farm deferment program, you must make application for this land in your name within 60 days of acquisition if you wish to have this land considered for farm deferment. New farm deferment applications must be filed by January 31, 2019.

Porcha D. Brooks, Vance County Tax Administrator