PITTSBORO – Chatham County Tax Office is reminding property owners that personal and business property must be registered with the Tax Office from January 1, 2021 until February 1, 2021 at the latest. Advertisements received after that date are subject to a late listing penalty of 10 percent of tax owed.
Forms are mailed, but owners can also collect forms from the Pittsboro Tax Office or download a 2021 list form at chathamnc.org/TaxForms. Property owners who do not receive their listing form by January 20, 2021 should call 919-542-8250 to make arrangements to list the properties in a timely manner.
This year, an online personal property and business personal property listing is available at chathamnc.org/TaxListingDivision. Individuals can also mail their completed listing forms. They must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than February 1, 2021 to avoid penalties. Properties can also be listed in person at the Tax Office, 12 East St., Pittsboro. Owners are required to bring with them all of the detailed information necessary to identify their property and its value, including the forms sent by post.
Note that the personal property listing forms are not used to list properties and registered vehicles with tags. Registered motor vehicles are handled by the NC Division of Motor Vehicles.
Individuals who made unauthorized changes to real estate worth $ 100 or more in 2020 or who need to change a vehicle’s registration status should contact the tax office. Examples of changes to real estate that have an impact on value include destruction, acquisition, construction, and damage. Owners must list items such as unlicensed vehicles, trailers with multi-year registration, mobile homes that are not classified as real estate, all types of watercraft, airplanes, and items used in a business. Commercial real estate also includes items that are used for agriculture, a trade or a profession, as well as furnishings or equipment that is made available to a tenant.
For businesses seeking an extension, owners should contact the tax office at 919-545-8475 to request a business listing extension form that extends the deadline to April 15, 2021. However, the renewal form must be completed and submitted no later than February 1, 2021.
Unpaid property taxes for 2020
Tax invoices sent in 2020 for real estate and personal property are due by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2021. From Wednesday, January 6, 2021, interest will be paid on all unpaid balances.
As soon as tax bills are in arrears, the tax office can start collecting procedures for late invoices, e.g. For example, by garnishment of wages (removing taxes from paychecks), appending bank funds from bank accounts and reimbursing income taxes, appending rental income, collecting taxes on personal property and foreclosure on property. Unpaid property taxes are advertised in the newspaper for an additional fee for the taxpayer. Taxes owed will be disclosed on behalf of the current owner.
Tax break options for certain owners
North Carolina law offers some property tax relief opportunities for elderly and permanently disabled, disabled veterans, and certain low-income real estate owners. For information about these options and how to qualify, see chathamnc.org/TaxRelief. Anyone who no longer meets the requirements of these programs must report this to the tax office. North Carolina law requires individuals receiving tax break options to undergo periodic compliance audits by the tax authority. Those responsible for listing the property of deceased people who qualified for the program last year must report this to the tax office.
Taxpayers are encouraged to view their personal property information at http://ustaxdata.com/nc/chatham/ or visit the tax office to review the information on file.
For more information on any of the above, or paying taxes in general, contact the Chatham County Tax Office at 919-542-8250 or 919-542-8260.