Frequently Asked Questions:
What Do Property Taxes Pay For?
Who Is Required To List Property?
What Is Tangible Personal Property?
When Should Property Be Listed?
When Should Vehicles Be Listed?
How Can Listing Forms Be Obtained?
Are Businesses Required To List?
Should Real Estate Be Listed Annually?
How Do I Appeal My Real Estate Value?
What Evidence Do I Need To Present For Appeal?
Are Tax Records Private Or Public Information?
What Do Property Taxes Pay For?
Property taxes pay for services such as: law enforcement, fire department, and
animal control. You also use services paid for by property taxes when you send
your children to public schools, check out a book from the library, carry your
trash to the convenience site, and even when you eat at an inspected restaurant.
Your taxes also pay for services to help protect children and senior citizens
from abuse or neglect, help move people from welfare to work, and much more. (Return
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What Property is Taxed?
Property taxes
are levied on real property, manufactured homes, motor vehicles, boats,
trailers, and income-producing personal property. (Return
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How Much Will I Pay in Taxes?
The
amount of property taxes you pay is based on the assessed value of your property
and the tax rate. The Tax Assessor determines the value of all taxable property
as of January 1. The County Commissioners meet during the spring of the year to
determine the current year’s tax rate. The amount of taxes can be determined by
multiplying the tax rate by each $100 of assessed value. For example, with a tax
rate of $0.72 and a assessed value of $100,000 the amount of taxes will be $720.
Keep in mind that some municipalities have their own tax rate, which will be in
addition to the County’s rate. (Return
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How Do I Pay Taxes?
Currently,
there are three ways to pay your real estate and personal property tax bills.
In person: 113 East Nash Street,
Wilson, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
By mail: Wilson County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 580328, Charlotte, NC 28258-0328
On-line: Visit www.wilson-co.com/taxpayments.html.
There is a fee
for using this service. The fee is charged and retained by a private company to
process the card payments.
Card
accepted: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover.
By phone: Call toll-free 1-800-272-9829. There is a fee for using this service.
This fee is charged This fee is charged and retained by a private company to
process the card payments.
Card
accepted: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover.
(Return
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What Are the Tax Deadlines?
Property
tax payments (except registered motor vehicles) are due September 1 of each year
and must be paid by January 5 of the following year. If mailed, payments may be
postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before January 5th to avoid interest
charges. (Return
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Who Is Required To List
Property?
Every individual, guardian, trustee, estate, unincorporated
association, corporation or partnership owning tangible personal property or
real estate that has been improved or has had additions and is subject to
taxation under North Carolina Law. All property owned on January 1 is taxable
for the entire year and the owner as of January 1 is responsible for the tax
bill for the entire year. (Return
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What Is Tangible Personal
Property?
Tangible personal property consists of mobile homes, untagged
motor vehicles, campers, trailers, motorcycles, air & watercraft and engines
for watercraft. Business furniture, equipment, etc., including free standing
appliances used in connection with rental property must also be listed. (Return
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When Should Property Be Listed?
Listing begins on the first business day of each January and ends on the last
day of January. If that day falls on Saturday or Sunday, the listing period ends
on the next business day. There is a 10% per year penalty for not filing the
listing form on time. (Return
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When Should Vehicles Be Listed?
Motor vehicles should be listed by the owner only when they are not licensed or
tagged. If your motor vehicle is licensed through the N.C. Department of Motor
Vehicles, it will automatically be billed. (Return
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How Can Listing Forms Be
Obtained?
Listing forms (abstracts) are mailed in late December of each year
to those who have previously listed. Otherwise, they may be obtained by
contacting the Listing Division. (Return
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Are Businesses Required To
List?
Yes. All businesses, whether maintaining an office or operating out of
the home, must list using the business listing form. Businesses are also
required to list property in their possession that is owned by others. (Return
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What is Real Estate?
Real Estate includes:
land and all buildings, structures and improvements attached to the land. (Return
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Should Real Estate Be Listed
Annually?
No. Wilson County operates on a permanent listing system. It is
the property owner’s duty to make sure that his/her property is listed
correctly. Real Estate must be listed in January only when a structure has been
added, changed or removed. A building permit does not fulfill this notification
requirement. (Return
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How Is Real Estate Valued?
Real
Estate is valued based on the County’s current schedule of values. The schedule
of values is generated prior to the County-wide revaluation, which occurs every
8 years. North Carolina law requires that each county conduct a revaluation at
least once every eight years. The last revaluation in Wilson County was
effective January 1, 2000. The primary purpose of the revaluation is to provide
equalization among all property owners, as well as among all classes of
property. Since property taxes are based on value, it is important to have all
property valued periodically on a uniform basis. (Return
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How Do I Appeal My Real Estate
Value?
You should submit your request for appeal during the listing period.
Appeal forms are available in the Real Estate Division. Also, appeal forms may
be requested from the Tax Department by writing or calling (252) 399-2902. (Return
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What Evidence Do I
Need To Present For Appeal?
Any and all documentation that will support your
opinion of the market value, such as a recent appraisal and/or sales of similar
properties. Simply stating that the property value is too high is not sufficient
evidence. (Return
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Are Tax Records
Private Or Public Information?
All records regarding listing and valuation
are public record. The public may view these records at anytime during normal
business hours, 8:00 AM—5:00 PM. Some records may also be viewed online at:
http://www.wilson-co.com.(Return
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