Homeowners looking to sell their real estate property or buy a new permanent residence in North Carolina should have a good understanding of North Carolina property tax laws.
Before you sell a home, you will need to learn about property tax rates, the possibility of an exemption, typical property values in your area, and North Carolina property tax relief programs. In the guide below, you will get the answers you’re looking for about the typical property tax bill in North Carolina.
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North Carolina Property Tax Laws
A home-owning taxpayer is bound to the property tax. The North Carolina property tax is locally assessed by a tax assessor and collected by the local government. The counties complete all tax-collecting processes, as the North Carolina Department of Revenue does not send taxpayers any property tax bills or collect taxes.
In the state of North Carolina, January 1st is the date that homeowners must pay their property taxes. The motor vehicle property tax in NC is the only one with a property tax exemption on that date. By the first day of January, you will have to pay taxes for the past calendar year.
The North Carolina General Statute 105-289 enables the Department of Revenue to handle the taxation and valuation of the property via taxing units across North Carolina.
The local property tax rates set by the Department of Revenue in North Carolina are usually lower when compared to other states. The North Carolina property tax rate is 0.77 percent, significantly less than the national average of 1.07 percent.
Every county has a different tax rate, and the county assessor evaluates the market value of your personal property during a typical tax year.
To determine your county’s tax rate, you can use a North Carolina Property Tax Calculator. To use that calculator, you need to know the assessed value of your home and the zip code.
Charlotte NC Tax Laws
Charlotte property owners should know that the tax laws in Charlotte, North Carolina, require a revaluation of every home to occur every five to eight years. The reappraisal of your home is then known as the tax value.
The tax value is not too difficult to understand, and tax assessors usually utilize a Computer Assisted Mass Appraisals program to determine the value. However, determining the tax rates depending on each county can get more complicated.
Yet, with a tax calculator, you’ll find the numerical value easily. To get the amount of your Charlotte property taxes, you will need to take your home’s tax value, divide it by 100 and then multiply the amount by the tax rate.
If you do not pay your property tax in Charlotte NC, the laws state that your home may undergo foreclosure. However, you can work with your local tax office to set up a payment plan and cover all fees before you end up losing your home.
NC Property Tax Relief
The state of North Carolina also provides people with property tax relief programs. For example, the state laws allow for disabled exclusion for any disabled veteran hurt in the line of battle. A disabled veteran can apply for the homestead exclusion tax break, a $45,000 exemption available to disabled veterans. A surviving spouse can also apply for a tax break.
When you become a homeowner, you will want to lay claim to all North Carolina tax breaks. For example, the elderly and disabled can get a partial exemption of $25,000 at a minimum.
You may also get deferred taxes if you are 65 years old or older and permanently disabled. This part of the population can apply for a property tax deferment program. That program puts a maximum ceiling on how much the taxpayer has to pay on their property taxes.
North Carolina Property Tax Programs
There are several property tax relief programs in North Carolina, such as:
- The homestead circuit breaker tax deferment program
- The elderly or disabled homestead exclusion program
- The disabled veterans homestead exclusion program
- Property tax exemption or exclusion programs
To qualify for the homestead circuit breaker tax deferment program, you must have a residence in North Carolina and live in the home for at least five years. You will also have to meet the income eligibility and either reach at least 65 years of age or have a permanent disability by January 1st of the year you apply.
You will need to apply for the program every year to gain eligibility. You have to apply by June 1st to get the tax deferment.
You can also apply for tax exemptions or exclusions for numerous reasons, such as:
- Religious purposes
- Educational purposes
- Charitable hospital purposes
- Running a home for the aged, sick, or infirm
- Running a YMCA or orphanage
Who Is Responsible for Setting Taxes?
When it comes to property taxes in North Carolina, the local government agencies in different counties set the tax rates. The state government also plays a role in setting up the property tax rate system and other state taxes.
On a federal level, the executive and legislative branches of the US government play a role in setting taxes. The President and the Secretary of the Treasury pay attention to the economic drivers in the country to see what actions can help taxpayers.
The US Congress also passes legislation and laws that set fiscal policies and spending for the country as a whole. The process involves the House of Representatives and the Senate working together to approve new laws and taxation policies.
The Taxing and Spending Clause in the US Constitution allows Congress to apply taxes on taxpayers around the country. Some areas where public funding and taxation can help include infrastructure, anti-poverty programs, and job training enterprises.
What Are Your Tax Rights?
There are specific tax rights that every taxpayer has. These tax rights are part of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and they include:
- The right to be informed
- The right to quality service
- The right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax
- The right to challenge the IRS’ position and be heard
- The right to appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum
- The right to finality
- The right to privacy
- The right to confidentiality
- The right to retain representation
- The right to a fair and just tax system
Taxpayers can expect the IRS to provide prompt and professional service while also having the right to have an impartial administrative appeal of IRS decisions. Taxpayers can also have legal representation when dealing with all IRS inquiries.
Conclusion
Before you sell a home, you should learn all the relevant North Carolina property tax laws. Property taxes in North Carolina are meant to cover the costs of public schools, roads and infrastructure, libraries, and other public services.
A tax assessor is responsible for assessing the value of your home to help determine your final property tax amount. Furthermore, every county in North Carolina has its own tax rate, which is also used to help calculate your property tax bill.
Once you have figured out your property taxes and made sure you are up-to-date in paying these fees, you can sell a house fast in North Carolina. The best way to do so is to find cash home buyers Charlotte who can complete the home sale in a few short weeks.
At our cash buying company, we buy houses Belmont owners need to sell quickly, so contact us today!