Chatham mails 2012 tax listing forms to county residents

Pittsboro, NC - With the arrival of 2012, Chatham County residents can expect to receive their 2012 property tax listing notices in the next few days. The Chatham County Tax Office mailed annual listing notices to residents this week, according to Tax Assessor Tina Stone.

Any Chatham County property owners not receiving their listing forms by Friday, January 6, should contact the Tax Office immediately at 919-542-8250.

Stone said that taxpayers also are encouraged to review their property cards online at chathamnc.org/taxoffice or visit the Tax Office to verify information on file.

Taxpayers should pay special attention to the following:

• Again this year, the tax listing forms should be returned to the county’s processing center location in Mount Airy. This streamlined system provides more timely and efficient handling of listing forms than is possible mailing forms directly to the Chatham County Tax Office.
• Beginning this year, businesses may visit our website at www.chathamnc.org/Business-Listing to request listing extensions or they can continue to use the service of Taxscribe at www.taxscribe.com to request listing extensions and submit listings electronically. Some services provided by Taxscribe may require you to pay a convenience fee. Review the inserts included in the listing form mailing for more information on these services.
• Also new this year is the option to receive your listing forms and tax bills electronically using Estatements. This will help with efficiency and reduce cost of postage and printing. To use this service, visit www.Chathamnctaxstatements.com and enter the tax registration ID printed on your listing forms. Please review the inserts included in the mailing for more information or contact our office at 919-542-8250.

Personal Property Tax Listing: According to North Carolina law, those owning personal property in the county as of Jan. 1, 2012 (with the exception of licensed motor vehicles) are required to list property with the Chatham County Tax Office by Jan. 31, 2012. Personal property includes unlicensed vehicles, boats, mobile homes, airplanes, motors, and any business personal property used in the production of income.

The listing period runs from Jan. 3, 2012 to Jan. 31, 2012. Any listings received by the county after this period will be subject to a late listing penalty equal to 10 percent of taxes owed.

Property Tax Relief for the Elderly and Permanently Disabled: Under North Carolina law, the elderly and permanently disabled may apply for property tax relief if their annual income is no more than $27,100. For those who qualify, a portion of the appraised value of their permanent residences may be exempt from property taxes.

The exempted portion is either $25,000 or 50 percent of the appraised value of the home, whichever is greater. For example, if a qualifying person owns a $60,000 house, only $30,000 of the house will be subject to taxation.

To qualify for relief, a property owner must have an income of $27,100 or less in the preceding year and must be either age 65 or older or must be totally and permanently disabled. New applicants for this tax relief must apply by June 1, 2012.

Those who received the exemption last year and still meet the requirements do not have to reapply for the exemption unless their place of residence has changed. Property owners who no longer meet the requirements of the exemption must notify the Tax Office.

If you are responsible for listing the property of someone who is deceased and who had qualified for the exemption last year, you must notify the Tax Office.

Property Tax Exemptions: Under state law, real estate and personal property used for certain religious, educational, or other purposes may qualify for a property tax exemption. Owners of property currently receiving the exemption do not have to reapply for the exemption, unless:

• The use of the property has changed;
• The owner has purchased additional property; or
• Improvements have been made to or removed from the property.

The deadline to apply for this exemption is Jan. 31, 2012

Land Use Deferments: Under state law, land that is actively used for commercial agriculture, forestry, or horticulture production may be eligible for reduced-rate taxation. Contact the Tax Office for more information on “land use deferments.” The deadline to apply for deferments is Jan. 31, 2012

Unpaid 2011 Property Taxes: Tax bills mailed in 2011for real and personal property are due by 5 pm. on Jan. 5, 2012. Interest will accrue on unpaid tax bills starting Jan. 6, 2012.

After this point, the Tax Office can begin collection procedures for late tax bills, including advertising unpaid real estate property taxes at an additional cost to the taxpayer. Unpaid real property taxes during the year of 2011 will be advertised in the newspaper in the current owners’ names.

Other collection procedures include garnishing wages (removing taxes from paychecks), attaching funds from bank accounts and income tax refunds, and foreclosing on property.

Contact Tax Collections at 919-542-8260 if you have questions regarding the payment of your taxes.

Other Questions: For more information about any of the items listed above, or your taxes in general, please contact the Chatham County Tax Office at 919-542-8250 or 919-542-8260.