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As of December 31, 2008
JAN. 5, 2009: LAST DAY TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT INTEREST
Charlotte, NC - Mecklenburg County residents are reminded that property tax payments must be paid on or before Jan. 5, 2009, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before that date.
Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after January 5 will be charged 2 percent interest for the month of January 2009 and an additional Ύ percent every month thereafter until paid.
All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill. Unpaid taxes are subject to collection action including garnishment, seizure of property, and foreclosure. North Carolina's set-off debt program also authorizes Mecklenburg County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
· Online: Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.*
· By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
· By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
· In person: Pay in person between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:
- Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street.
- West Service Center, 4150 Wilkinson Blvd.
* Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted when paying in person.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600. More information is also available at http://tax.charmeck.org.
As of September 18, 2008
IMPORTANT TAX DEADLINE CHANGES FOR SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES
Charlotte, NC The monthly payment date for certain businesses taxes in Mecklenburg County have been changed effective immediately. The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners has passed an ordinance that changes the monthly tax return/payment deadline from the fifteenth of every month to the twentieth of every month for the following local taxes:
Room Occupancy
Prepared Food and Beverage
Vehicle Rental Taxes
U-Drive-It Tax
The change was necessary in order to align local payment dates with those established by the State of North Carolina. The County and the State having consistent due dates for similar taxes is administratively beneficial to businesses who collect and remit these taxes.
More information will be sent out with the next mailing of tax returns to businesses in the Tax Collector's current database that collect the listed taxes. Additional information is available at tax.charmeck.org or by contacting the Business Tax Collection section of the Office of the Tax Collector at taxbusiness@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-336-6315.
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As of June 26, 2008
COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR AND TAX ASSESSOR SERVICES
UNAVILABLE OVER HOLIDAY
Charlotte, NC Two key Mecklenburg County property tax services will be unavailable to residents over the Independence Day holiday beginning July 3*. Both the Tax Collector's Office and Property Assessment and Land Records Management Office will be closed on Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, to switch over to a state-of-the-art property tax information system. These offices will reopen on Monday, July 7.
The County is customizing the North Carolina Property Tax System (NCPTS) to integrate their tax collection and property assessment functions. The Mecklenburg County customization will become version 4.0 of NCPTS, and is expected to result in significant efficiency improvements and enhanced service delivery.
The July 3 closing will give the staff of the two County offices a four-day weekend to install and test the system prior to going live with the software on July 7.
Residents who receive a notice of property taxes due or a notice of a tax block on their automobile should make arrangements to pay their tax bill prior to the July 3 shutdown in order to obtain a paid status prior to the July 4 holiday. Since there will not be access to tax records during this four-day time period, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg 311 customer service representatives will not be able to assist callers with tax questions. The online tax Internet applications will also be unavailable during this time.
The Tax Assessor and Tax Collector appreciate your patience and understanding during this time of transition.
*The Business Tax Collections (BTC) Unit of the Tax Collector's Office will be open on July 3, 2008. The BTC is responsible for collecting business licenses, room occupancy tax, prepared food and beverage tax, vehicle rental tax, beer and wine tax, yard sale fees, taxi cab tax and other non-property taxes.
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As of February 11, 2008
Charlotte, NC About 47,000 Mecklenburg County property owners who have not yet paid their 2007 real and personal property tax bills will have their names and the amount they owe published in local newspapers if payment is not received or postmarked by Friday, February 29, 2008.
The list of delinquent taxpayers is scheduled for publication in The Charlotte Observer on March 16. The names of tax delinquents in Huntersville and Cornelius will be published in the Huntersville Herald on March 13. Each tax bill published will be charged an additional fee for the cost of the advertisement. That fee is in addition to interest charged for late payment. Any 2007 real estate and personal property tax bill paid after January 8, 2008, is charged 2 percent interest for the month of January and 0.75 percent interest for each month thereafter until the bill is paid.
Delinquent taxpayers run the risk of having their North Carolina state income tax refund seized to pay off their County property taxes. Mecklenburg County participates in the N.C. Debt Setoff Program. This program authorizes the Tax Collector to submit the delinquent tax amounts of taxpayers to the State. The State distributes income tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt. The Tax Collector is also empowered to garnish funds, levy (seize and sell) personal property, and foreclose on real property to satisfy unpaid taxes. These actions are taken after the delinquent date and are not contingent on the advertisement of delinquent taxes.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
Online: Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.*By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.**By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.*In person: Pay in person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.:
- Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street.
- West Service Center, 4150 Wilkinson Blvd.
* Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted when paying in person.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call Char-Meck 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600. More information is also available at http://tax.charmeck.org.
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As of August 17, 2007
MECKLENBURG COUNTY TAX BILLS TO BE MAILED AUGUST 27. Charlotte, NC On August 27, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will mail tax bills to approximately 371,500 property owners and mortgage companies.
Tax bills are mailed directly to the owner of the property as of January 1, 2007 or the mortgage company that requested the bill for property owners with tax escrow accounts. Property owners who escrow their property taxes with a mortgage company will receive a property tax notification from the Tax Collector. These owners should review the notice carefully to insure the bill was sent to the correct mortgage company to avoid errors.
Property tax payments must be paid on or before January 7, 2008 to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before that date. Property owners whose payments are postmarked on or after January 8, 2008, will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2008 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid. All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill. There are several ways to pay your tax bill:- By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.*
- By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card or eCheck. Service is now available in English and Spanish when paying your tax bill by phone.*
- By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
- In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte or West Service Area Center, 4150 Wilkinson Boulevard, between 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call City-County Customer Service at 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
What is taxed? Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings) and personal property (boats, aircraft, income-producing business personal property, and unlicensed motor vehicles, etc.) The Tax Collector bills for licensed motor vehicles based on the monthly registration data from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. Mecklenburg County: The countywide tax rate for FY2008 is $0.8387 per $100 assessed valuation. Tax bills for property in the unincorporated areas include an additional law enforcement service district tax rate for a total tax rate of $1.0149. The law enforcement service district tax funds police service in those areas. It is based on the percentage of County residents who live in unincorporated areas. Residents of Charlotte and the six towns pay for police service through their municipal property taxes. Cities and Towns: The City of Charlotte property tax rate for FY2008 is $0.4586 per $100 assessed valuation. Property within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's six towns is assessed a county tax rate and a city or town tax rate. The combined FY2008 City/County tax rate for property within the City of Charlotte is $1.2973 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Cornelius is $1.1137, Davidson is $1.1837, Huntersville is $1.1287, Matthews is $1.1462, Mint Hill is $1.1137, and Pineville is $1.1387.Solid Waste Fees: For residential property within the Charlotte city limits, the tax bill includes two solid waste fees. The Charlotte solid waste fee is $45 for a single-family residence or $27 for a multi-family residence. The solid waste fee pays the disposal costs for trash collected in Charlotte. The County solid waste fee of $12 is used to pay for recycling and waste reduction services. Tax bills for all residential property within Mecklenburg County, except that which is located in Matthews, will include the County solid waste fee. The Huntersville solid waste fee is $36 per residence.
Tax bills are mailed to the owner of record at the address shown on the listing as of January 1, 2007. According to North Carolina law, failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or interest charges. Pay Online: Mecklenburg County offers a wide variety of services online, including videos, maps, records, and the option to pay your property taxes. To pay your tax bill online, visit the Web site http://paytax.charmeck.org. You can pay using a credit card, debit card or with eCheck (pay directly from a checking account). Simply enter your tax bill number and follow the instructions.
There is a convenience fee for using the online payment feature. Credit/debit card convenience fees are based on the amount of the tax bill. The eCheck convenience fee is a flat charge of $2.00 regardless of the amount of tax paid. These fees are not paid to the County. They are the cost of administering the credit/debit card and eCheck options.
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As of June 4, 2007
COUNTY BUDGET ADDRESSES SCHOOL FUNDING AND OTHER KEY POLICY QUESTIONS; INCREASES TAX RATE BY 1.98’
Charlotte, NC The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners has approved an operating budget that provides Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with an increase in operational funding of $25.2 million, allocates $26 million for construction and renovation of County facilities, and adds $10 million to fund the County's long-term liability for retiree benefits.
The $1.45 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2008 requires a countywide property tax rate of 83.87 cents per $100 of property valuation, a 1.98 cent increase from this year's rate. The tax rate increase means the owner of a home with a tax value of $200,000 will see an increase of $39.60 on next year's tax bill.
This amount does not include property taxes levied by the City of Charlotte or the towns. It also does not include the Law Enforcement Service District tax in the unincorporated areas. Residents in unincorporated Mecklenburg County will pay a tax rate of 17.62 cents for police service, an increase of 1.15 cents. Municipal residents pay their cost of police services as part of their city or town property taxes.
Key policy items addressed in the budget:
Education: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will receive $337.4 million to supplement state funding for operations, a $25.2 million increase from the County's current funding that raises the County's total cost per CMS student from $2,451 to $2,543. The Board also increased operations funding for Central Piedmont Community College by $1.7 million over this year, allocating a total of $24.9 million for CPCC operating costs. The adopted budget also includes $88.5 million for CMS debt service and $15.1 million for CPCC debt service.
Pay As You Go: The Board allocated $26 million to the pay-as-you-go reserve fund established two years ago, an increase of $12.8 million. The "Paygo" fund will pay for the construction and renovation of some County facilities without borrowing money, thereby eliminating substantial interest costs.
Retiree Benefits: The Board fully funded the Other Post-Employment Benefits Annual Required Contribution at $10 million. New accounting rules require the County to report its liability related to future retiree benefits, and unfunded liabilities that continue to grow could put pressure on the County's credit rating.
County Services: The budget also provides additional funding to pay for increased costs of maintaining existing County services such as Medicaid, health services, fuel for vehicles, 26 additional school nurse positions, the operating costs of new parks, and merit increases for County employees.
Medicaid: $5.6 million
General Debt Service: 5.3 million
Overtime for Sheriff's Office: 3.0 million
Capital Reserve: 2.6 million
Mental Health Contract with Carolinas Healthcare System: 1.9 million
Annualized Cost for Parks Opened in FY2007: 1.9 million
Operating Funds for New Parks to Open in FY2008: 1.9 million
School Nurses: 1.6 million
MEDIC: 1.5 million
Retiree Medical Insurance: 1.3 million
Public Health Contract with Carolinas Healthcare System: 1.2 million
New Outside Agency Funding: 1.2 million
Business Investment Grant: 1.2 million
Annualized Cost for Positions Authorized in FY2007: 1.0 million
Contractual Increases: 919,000
Utilities Costs: 860,000
Claims Settlements: 700,000
Indigent Care Increase: 693,000
Jail Diversion (Restricted Contingency): 500,000
Emission Reduction: 500,000
Park and Recreation Paygo: 500,000
Cost Reductions: The FY2008 budget also identified over $15 million in cost reductions. These include a reduction in funding for the high school challenge, savings by eliminating vacant positions, decommissioning a mainframe computer and reductions temporary salary funding.
2015 Vision for Mecklenburg County: These spending decisions are consistent with the County's effort to achieve the 2015 Vision set forth by the Board of County Commissioners. The budget focuses spending on the Board's three-year strategic emphasis, intended to lead to the 25 desired results in the Community and Corporate Scorecard. The Scorecard is a tool used by Mecklenburg County to measure its progress towards the 2015 vision.
More information on the Mecklenburg County FY2008 budget can found at http://countybudget.charmeck.org.
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As of June 1, 2007
There are more than 50,000 businesses in Mecklenburg County and most are required to have a local "privilege license," also known as a business license. All business licenses in Mecklenburg County expire on June 30, 2007. The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector is preparing to mail renewal notices to these businesses, which are due on or before July 1, 2007 to avoid penalties.
Any business operating in Mecklenburg County may be required to obtain a business license. That includes businesses that are home-based, sole proprietorship, partnerships, limited liability corporations, corporations, full-time or part-time. Taxes vary depending on the type and size of the business. In most cases, the license tax is based on past gross sales (or estimated sales for new businesses): $0.60 per $1,000 of gross sales, with a minimum tax of $50 and a maximum tax of $10,000.
BEER AND WINE: Businesses with beer/wine licenses are reminded that renewals were due May 1, 2007. Any business that operates without a local beer/wine license runs the risk of losing its ABC permit.
The Tax Collector urges any business operating without a license to contact the Mecklenburg County Business Tax Collection Unit immediately. Staffers are prepared to walk business owners through the process of obtaining a license to insure that they are compliant with all tax laws and ordinances.
For more information:
· Visit the Web site http://tax.charmeck.org
· E-mail: TaxBiz@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
· Call 704-336-6315
· Visit the business Tax Collection Division, Hal Marshall County Services Center, 700 North Tryon Street, Charlotte.
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As of April 11, 2007
About 30,000 Mecklenburg County property owners have not yet paid their 2006 real and personal property tax bills. Those owners will have their names and the amount they owe published in The Charlotte Observer on Sunday, April 15. Huntersville and Cornelius delinquencies will be published in the Huntersville Herald.Each tax bill published will be charged an additional fee for the cost of the advertisement. That fee is in addition to interest charged for late payment. Any 2006 tax bill paid after January 5, 2007 is charged 2 percent interest for the month of January and 0.75 percent interest for each month thereafter until the bill is paid.REFUND AT RISK: Delinquent taxpayers run the risk of having their North Carolina state income tax refund seized to pay off their County property taxes. Mecklenburg County participates in the N.C. Setoff Debt Program. This program authorizes the Tax Collector to submit the delinquent tax amounts of taxpayers to the State and the State distributes income tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:-Online: Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.
-By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.
-By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
-In person: Pay in person between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:
- Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street.
- West Service Center, 4150 Wilkinson Blvd.
* Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted when paying in person.CONTACT INFORMATION: Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call Char-Meck 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600. To look up your property and taxes owed, visit http://tax.charmeck.org.
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As of March 14, 2007
MARCH 30: DEADLINE TO PAY COUNTY TAXES BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPERCharlotte, NC About 32,000 Mecklenburg County property owners have not yet paid their 2006 real and personal property tax bills. Those owners will have their names and the amount they owe published in The Charlotte Observer if payment is not received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2007. Huntersville and Cornelius delinquencies will be published in the Huntersville Herald.The list of delinquent taxpayers is scheduled for publication in The Charlotte Observer on Sunday, April 15. Each tax bill published will be charged an additional fee for the cost of the advertisement. That fee is in addition to interest charged for late payment. Any 2006 tax bill paid after January 5, 2007 is charged 2 percent interest for the month of January and 0.75 percent interest for each month thereafter until the bill is paid.REFUND AT RISK: Delinquent taxpayers run the risk of having their North Carolina state income tax refund seized to pay off their County property taxes. Mecklenburg County participates in the N.C. Setoff Debt Program. This program authorizes the Tax Collector to submit the delinquent tax amounts of taxpayers to the State and the State distributes income tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:-Online: Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.
-By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.
-By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
-In person: Pay in person between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:
- Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street.
- West Service Center, 4150 Wilkinson Blvd.
* Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted when paying in person.CONTACT INFORMATION: Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call Char-Meck 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600. More information is also available at http://tax.charmeck.org.
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As of February 16, 2007
The OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR will mail advertisement notifications to taxpayers that have delinquent tax bills.
The notice does not reflect payments received after February 16. If payments are not received by March 30, taxpayers are warned of being advertised. The notification also advises of possible garnishment, levy (seizure), or foreclosure.
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As of February 7, 2007
APPLY NOW: SENIOR CITIZENS ELIGIBLE FOR PROPERTY TAX BREAK Charlotte, NC Many senior citizens may be eligible for a break on their property taxes and not even know it. North Carolina gives elderly or totally and permanently disabled citizens an exemption of $20,000 or 50% of the appraised value of their home whichever is greatest. The deadline for new applicants to receive the exemption this year is June 1.The property must be the permanent residence owned and occupied by a qualifying owner. To qualify, an owner must meet the following requirements as of January 1, 2007:
At least 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled.
Has an income for the preceding year of not more than $20,500.
North Carolina resident.The application deadline for a senior citizen or disabled citizen who did not receive the exemption last year is June 1. Anyone who received the exemption last year does not need to re-apply.
Applications for the exemption are available at Mecklenburg County's Office of Property Assessment and Land Records Management at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street, Suite 200 (second floor) in Charlotte. For more information or to receive an application in the mail, call 311. Outside of Mecklenburg County, call 704-336-4600.__________________________________________
As of December 27, 2006
JANUARY 5, 2007: LAST DAY TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT INTEREST
Mecklenburg County residents are reminded that property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2007 to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before that date.
Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after January 5 will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2007 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid.
All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill. Unpaid taxes are subject to collection action including garnishment, seizure of property, and foreclosure. North Carolina's set-off debt program also authorizes Mecklenburg County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes.There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
Online: Visit http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.*
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay in person between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:
- Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street
- West Service Center, 4150 Wilkinson Blvd.
* Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted when paying in person.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600. More information is also available at http://tax.charmeck.org.
What is taxed? Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings) and personal property (boats, aircraft, income-producing business personal property, and unlicensed motor vehicles, etc.) The Tax Collector bills for licensed motor vehicles based on the monthly registration data from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.
Mecklenburg County: The countywide tax rate for FY2007 is $0.8189 per $100 assessed valuation. Tax bills for property in the unincorporated areas include an additional law enforcement service district tax rate of $0.1647 added to the countywide tax rate. The law enforcement service district tax funds police service in those areas. It is based on the percentage of County residents who live in unincorporated areas. Residents of Charlotte and the six towns pay for police service through their municipal property taxes.
Cities and Towns: The City of Charlotte property tax rate for FY2007 is $0.4586 per $100 assessed valuation. Property within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's six towns is assessed a county tax rate and a city or town tax rate. The combined 2005-2006 City/County tax rate for property within the City of Charlotte is $1.2775 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Cornelius is $1.0939, Davidson is $1.1639, Huntersville is $1.1089, Matthews is $1.1264, Mint Hill is $1.0939, and Pineville is $1.1189.
Solid Waste Fees: For residential property within the Charlotte city limits, the tax bill includes two solid waste fees. The Charlotte solid waste fee is $45 for a single-family residence or $27 for a multi-family residence. The solid waste fee pays the disposal costs for trash collected in Charlotte. The County solid waste fee of $12 is used to pay for recycling and waste reduction services. Tax bills for all residential property within Mecklenburg County, except that which is located in Matthews, will include the County solid waste fee.
Tax bills were mailed to the owner of record at the address shown on the listing as of January 1, 2006. According to North Carolina law, failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or interest charges.
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As of November 20, 2006
Effective December 1, 2006 a new U-Drive-It Vehicle Rental Tax
The Board of County Commissioners adopted an ordinance to impose and levy a 5% U-Drive-It Tax that is in addition to the current 1.5% Charlotte Vehicle Rental Tax and 1.5% Mecklenburg Vehicle Rental tax. The new 5% tax is applicable for passenger cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and motorcycles. Also included are property-hauling vehicles (van, truck, or trailer) 7,000 pounds or less. The tax is not applicable to recreational vehicles or property-hauling vehicles over 7,000 pounds. The U-Drive-It Tax is on some, but not all, of the vehicles taxed by the Vehicle Rental Tax ordinance. The additional tax is charged and remitted in the same manner and has the same due date that the current 3% tax has. All exemptions and credits allowed for nontaxable sales will remain the same. The new 5% U-Drive-It Tax will be charged separately from the short term vehicle rental tax as well as other taxes and it must show separately on your sales records. The effective date of levying the additional 5% U-Drive-It Tax will be December 1, 2006. A return filed under this ordinance is not a PUBLIC record and may not be disclosed except as required by law.
Penalties for noncompliance with the new ordinance are: 10% for the tax not paid, 5% per month if the return is not filed on the due date, and Ύ% per month from the due date until tax is paid.
This tax was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on September 19, 2006. The tax money will be provided to the City of Charlotte to fund CATS transportations services, which will allow the City to allocate funds in support of the cultural facilities plan. The agreements mandate the City of Charlotte to apply 90% of the U-Drive-It Tax funds toward financing cultural facilities with the remaining 10% being allocated to the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville (based on actual vehicle rentals in each town).
Detailed instructions are available on our website, http://tax.charmeck.org. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the ordinances in question, please call our office at 704-336-6315.
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As of August 30, 2006
TAX COLLECTOR TO MAIL PROPERTY TAX BILLS
Mecklenburg County property owners will soon find a tax bill or mortgage letter in their mailbox. On August 30, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will mail tax bills to approximately 366,000 property owners and mortgage companies.
Tax bills are mailed directly to the owner of the property as of January 1, 2006 or the mortgage company that requested the bill for property owners with tax escrow accounts. Property owners who escrow their property taxes with a mortgage company will receive a property tax notification from the Tax Collector. These owners should review the notice carefully to insure the bill was sent to the correct mortgage company to avoid errors.
Property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2007, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before that date. Property owners whose payments are postmarked on or after January 6, 2007, will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2007 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid. All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
· By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck. *
· By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
· By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
· In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call City-County Customer Service at 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone lines are typically busy in the weeks after tax bills are mailed, so callers are asked to be patient. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
What is taxed? Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings) and personal property (boats, aircraft, income-producing business personal property, and unlicensed motor vehicles, etc.) The Tax Collector bills for licensed motor vehicles based on the monthly registration data from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.
Mecklenburg County: The countywide tax rate for FY2006 is $0.8189 per $100 assessed valuation. Tax bills for property in the unincorporated areas include an additional law enforcement service district tax rate of $0.1647 added to the countywide tax rate. The law enforcement service district tax funds police service in those areas. It is based on the percentage of County residents who live in unincorporated areas. Residents of Charlotte and the six towns pay for police service through their municipal property taxes.
Cities and Towns: The City of Charlotte property tax rate for FY2006 is $0.4586 per $100 assessed valuation. Property within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's six towns is assessed a county tax rate and a city or town tax rate. The combined 2005-2006 City/County tax rate for property within the City of Charlotte is $1.2775 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Cornelius is $1.0939, Davidson is $1.1639, Huntersville is $1.1089, Matthews is $1.1264, Mint Hill is $1.0939, and Pineville is $1.1189.
Solid Waste Fees: For residential property within the Charlotte city limits, the tax bill includes two solid waste fees. The Charlotte solid waste fee is $45 for a single-family residence or $27 for a multi-family residence. The solid waste fee pays the disposal costs for trash collected in Charlotte. The County solid waste fee of $12 is used to pay for recycling and waste reduction services. Tax bills for all residential property within Mecklenburg County, except that which is located in Matthews, will include the County solid waste fee.
Tax bills are mailed to the owner of record at the address shown on the listing as of January 1, 2006. According to North Carolina law, failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or interest charges.
Pay Online: Mecklenburg County offers a wide variety of services online, including videos, maps, records, and the option to pay your property taxes. To pay your tax bill online, visit the Web site http://paytax.charmeck.org. You can pay using a credit card, debit card or with eCheck (pay directly from a checking account). Simply enter your tax bill number and follow the instructions.
There is a convenience fee for using the online payment feature. Credit/debit card convenience fees are based on the amount of the tax bill. The eCheck convenience fee is a flat charge of $2.00 regardless of the amount of tax paid. These fees are not paid to the County. They are the cost of administering the credit/debit card and eCheck options.
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As of July 24, 2006
INCORRECT INTEREST DATE ON VEHICLE TAX BILLS MAILED ON JULY 15, 2006
On July 15, 2006 more than 54,000 vehicle tax bills were created and mailed. However, 20,000 of these vehicle tax bills were created with incorrect information on them in reference to the interest-begin date. The vehicle tax bills sent on July 15th should be paid on or before August 31st to avoid interest. Interest will start accruing on September 1, 2006 if the tax bills are not paid.
Out of the tax bills sent, some incorrectly indicate an October 1st due date and others indicate a random string of numbers and dashes for a due date. The Office of the Tax Collector apologizes for any inconvenience and is working to ensure this error does not occur again.
All taxpayers in this billing group should be advised that the interest-begin date is September 1, 2006 regardless of what may appear on your tax bill statement. The interest begin date appears in the upper right portion of your tax bills. We advise no one to withhold their payment for a later date. If payment is not received before September 1, 2006, interest will accrue and will be charged.
If there are any questions, please call Char-Meck 311.
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As of July 1, 2006
DEADLINE TO RENEW BUSINESS LICENSES
IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY
There are more than 44,000 businesses in Mecklenburg County and most are required to have a local "privilege license" also known as a business license. All business licenses in Mecklenburg County expire on June 30, 2006. On May 25, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector mailed renewal notices to these businesses, which are due on or before July 1, 2006, to avoid penalties.
Any business operating in Mecklenburg County may be required to obtain a business license. That includes businesses that are home-based, sole proprietorship, partnerships, limited liability corporations, corporations, full-time or part-time. Taxes vary depending on the type and size of the business. In most cases, the license tax is based on past gross sales (or estimated sales for new businesses): $0.60 per $1,000 of gross sales, with a minimum tax of $50 and a maximum tax of $10,000.
NEW THIS YEAR: About 1,300 businesses in the City of Charlotte are affected by a new maximum business license tax. This year, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector begins collecting up to the maximum tax of $10,000 from businesses required to purchase a business privilege license that are based on gross receipts or number of employees. The new maximum tax was set by the Charlotte City Council to go into effect in 2006. The previous maximum of $2,000 was adopted in 1988.
BEER AND WINE: Businesses with beer/wine licenses are reminded that renewals were due May 1, 2006. Any business that operates without a local beer/wine license runs the risk of losing their ABC permit.
The Tax Collector urges any business operating without a license to contact the Mecklenburg County Business Tax Collection Division immediately. Staffers are prepared to walk business owners through the process of obtaining a license to insure that they are compliant with all tax laws and ordinances.
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As of May 1, 2006
MECKLENBURG COUNTY TO IMPOSE AND LEVY A 2% ROOM OCCUPANY TAX FOR THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME MUSEUM
The City of Charlotte has requested the Board of County Commissioners adopt an ordinance to impose and levy a 2% room occupancy tax in addition to the previously authorized and imposed 6% room occupancy tax.
The 2% room occupancy tax will derive from the rental of any room, lodging, or accommodation furnished by a hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, or similar place within Mecklenburg County.
The 2% room occupancy tax does not apply to accommodations furnished by nonprofit charitable, educational, benevolent, or religious organizations.
The effective date of levying the new 2% room occupancy tax is the first day of the calendar month which is not earlier than the first day of the second month after the date that the ordinance is adopted.
The 2% room occupancy tax will be charged separately from the room rental charge. The 2% tax will be shown separately on the taxable establishment's sales records.
Proceeds of the tax are to be paid to the City of Charlotte for the use of acquisition, construction, repair, maintenance, and financing of a NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum.
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As of April 13, 2006
ADVERTISEMENT OF DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS
About 27,000 Mecklenburg County property owners have not paid their 2005 real and personal property tax bills. Those owners will have their names and the amount they owe published in the Huntersville Herald and The Charlotte Observer.
Huntersville and Cornelius delinquencies will be published in the Huntersville Herald on April 13, 2006. All other jurisdictions will be published in The Charlotte Observer on April 16, 2006.
Each tax bill published will be charged an additional fee for the cost of the newspaper advertisement. That fee is in addition to interest charged for late payment.
Any 2005 tax bill paid after January 5, 2006, will be charged 2% interest for the month of January and 0.75% interest for each month thereafter until the bill is paid.
The amount listed in the advertisement does not include the advertisement fee or interest owed. To verify the full amount due, please visit use Tax Bill Lookup.
Taxpayers who owned real estate on January 1, 2005, will be advertised even if they sold the property to someone else. Both the January 1st owner and the new owner's name will be listed in the advertisement.
The delinquent advertisement is a method to notifying taxpayers of their delinquent real and personal tax bills. Prior to the delinquent advertisement, attempts to collect delinquent taxes were made on at least two different occasions. The first collection attempt was a notification mailed early February, which consisted of the North Carolina Setoff Debt Program. The second attempt was a notification mailed on March 1, 2006 with a deadline for payment of March 31, 2006 to avoid advertisement.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org to use your credit card, debit card, or eCheck. A convenience fee will be assessed when using this option.
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 to use your credit card or debit card. A convenience fee will be assessed when using this option.
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street, in Charlotte between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector. Credit card and debit cards are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
If you have questions regarding the April 2006 delinquent advertisement please contact 311 or visit http://tax.charmeck.org and click on "Office of the Tax Collector."
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As of March 31, 2006
AUTOMATED CALL SYSTEM
In late March, the OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR will begin using an automated call system to contact delinquent taxpayers regarding outstanding taxes. A news release will be issued to coincide with the use of this collection tool. When a taxpayer or voice mail machine answers the telephone, a prerecorded message will be delivered by the system. The message will ask the taxpayer to call 311 regarding their delinquent taxes. We anticipate the 311 staff will be able to answer 80 percent of the questions that arise. The more complex matters will be forwarded to Office of Tax Collector staff for research and response.
The automated call system can place 120 calls per hour, and will operate each business day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The 311 call center is operational during these times.
The initial strategy is to use this system to contact taxpayers who owe up to $5,000 in real estate, personal property, or registered motor vehicle taxes. This effort supplements other methods of contacting taxpayers, including delinquent notices, field visits and telephone calls from the Office of Tax Collector staff. Using this automated system allows Office of Tax Collector to deploy most of its personnel to collect delinquent taxes of more than $5,000. If this automated approach proves successful, we will expand its use to collecting privilege license taxes in the fall of 2006.
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As of February 28, 2006
MECKLENBURG COUNTY TO BEGIN COLLECTING NEW MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR BUSINESS LICENSES.
About 1,300 businesses in the City of Charlotte will be affected by a new maximum business license tax.
This year, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will begin collecting a maximum tax of $10,000 from businesses required to purchase a business privilege license. The new maximum tax was set by the Charlotte City Council to go into effect in 2006. The previous maximum of $2,000 was adopted in 1988. Notices to the 1,300 businesses likely to be affected were mailed on Friday, February 24.
Business licenses are authorized by the State of North Carolina and are considered a license for the privilege to do business within a local tax jurisdiction. Businesses are required to renew their business license annually by July 1 of each year (with the exception of taxi cab drivers and beer/wine licenses). Renewal forms will be mailed in May. The current rate is based on a business's estimated gross receipts at a rate of $0.60 per $1,000 to a maximum of $2,000. Beginning this year, the maximum in Charlotte goes up to $10,000. This ordinance change only affects those businesses that are required to pay the business license tax based upon gross receipts and the "Miscellaneous" category. Those businesses that pay in accordance with a restricted State schedule are not affected by this ordinance.
Contact Information: Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and select "business/privilege license" for additional information. Questions? Business owners can call the Business Tax Collections Office at 704-336-6315 or email taxbusiness@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. _________________________________________
As of February 28, 2006
THE OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR WILL ELIMINATE THE OPTION TO FILE ONE PREPARED FOOD & BEVERAGE TAX RETURN FOR MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
For example, McDonalds usually sends one tax return for 15 locations and includes the breakdown of gross receipts for each location to the back of the return. They are now required to complete and submit 15 tax returns. The 80 taxpayers affected by this change will receive a notice this week.
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As of February 27, 2006
THE OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR WILL MAIL ADVERTISMENT NOTIFICATIONS TO TAXPAYERS THAT HAVE DELIQUENT REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS.
The notice does not reflect payments received after February 17. If payments are not received by March 31, taxpayers are warned of being advertised. The notification also advises of possible garnishment, levy (seizure), or foreclosure.
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As of January 5, 2006
LAST DAY TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT INTEREST
Charlotte, NC - Mecklenburg County residents are reminded that property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2006, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked on or before that date.
Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after January 5 will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2006 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid.
All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill. Unpaid taxes are subject to collection action including garnishment, seizure of property, and foreclosure. North Carolina's set-off debt program also authorizes Mecklenburg County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.*
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. More information is also available at http://tax.charmeck.org.
What is taxed? Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings) and personal property (boats, aircraft, income-producing business personal property, and unlicensed motor vehicles, etc.) Licensed motor vehicles are billed based on the monthly registration data from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.
Mecklenburg County: The countywide tax rate for FY2006 is $0.8368 per $100 assessed valuation. Tax bills for property in the unincorporated areas include an additional law enforcement service district tax rate of $0.1768 added to the countywide tax rate. The law enforcement service district tax funds police service in those areas. It is based on the percentage of County residents who live in unincorporated areas. Residents of Charlotte and the six towns pay their share of police service costs through property taxes levied by their respective municipalities.
Cities and Towns: The City of Charlotte property tax rate for FY2006 is $0.42 per $100 assessed valuation. Property within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's six towns is assessed a county tax rate and a city or town tax rate. The combined 2005-2006 City/County tax rate for property within the City of Charlotte is $1.2568 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Cornelius is $1.0968, Davidson is $1.1818, Huntersville is $1.1168, Matthews is $1.1443, Mint Hill is $1.1118, and Pineville is $1.1368.
Solid Waste Fees: For residential property within the Charlotte city limits, the tax bill includes two solid waste fees. The Charlotte solid waste fee is $45 for a single-family residence or $27 for a multi-family residence. The solid waste fee pays the disposal costs for trash collected in Charlotte. The County solid waste fee of $12 is used to pay for recycling and waste reduction services. Tax bills for all residential property within Mecklenburg County, except that which is located in Matthews, will include the County solid waste fee.
Tax bills were mailed in August of 2005 to the owner of record at the address shown on the listing as of January 1, 2005. According to North Carolina law, failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or interest charges.
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As of January 1, 2006
DELINQUENT MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES GOING UP
Changes in the North Carolina General Statutes will impact taxpayers who do not pay their motor vehicle tax bills on time.
Effective January 1st, interest on the first month will increase from two-percent to five-percent.
Taxpayers who had a motor vehicle bill due on December 1, 2005 have until December 31, 2005 to pay to avoid the interest.
The increase in the interest of three-percent will go towards the implementation of a statewide billing and collection system for motor vehicle taxes.
Effective July 1, 2009 citizens will begin to be billed for their motor vehicle registration and their property taxes on the same bill.
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As of October 10, 2005
LAST CHANCE FOR BUSINESSES TO RENEW PRIVILEGE LICENSES AND AVOID LEGAL ACTION
On October 10, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will mail over 18,000 delinquent notices to area businesses who have failed to renew their Privilege Licenses. All businesses operating in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are required to obtain a business license annually which expires on the 30 of June each year.
Over 43,000 renewal applications were mailed on May 25 with directions to renew the license prior to July 1, 2005 to avoid additional taxes, penalties or other legal actions. Since that time, an additional 2200 new businesses have been identified.
North Carolina law states that the Tax Collector must assume that businesses are still operational until notified otherwise. Owners of businesses that have been closed or sold must notify the Business Tax Collection unite by returning an application or call (704)336-6315.
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August 26, 2005
TAX COLLECTOR TO MAIL PROPERTY TAX BILLS
Mecklenburg County property owners will soon find a tax bill or mortgage letter in their mailbox. On August 26, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will mail tax bills to approximately 332,000 property owners and mortgage companies.
Tax bills are mailed directly to those who pay the bill - property owners or mortgage companies with which taxes are escrowed. Property owners who escrow their property taxes with their mortgage companies will receive a notification from the Tax Collector. Owners should review the notice carefully to avoid errors.
Property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2006, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before that date. Property owners whose payments are postmarked on or after January 6, 2006, will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2006 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid. All unpaid taxes will be advertised in local newspapers and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck. *
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call 311. Taxpayers calling from outside Mecklenburg County should dial 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone lines are typically busy in the weeks after tax bills are mailed, so callers are asked to be patient. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
What is taxed? Property taxes are levied on real property (land and buildings) and personal property (boats, aircraft, income-producing business personal property, and unlicensed motor vehicles, etc.) The Tax Collector bills for licensed motor vehicles based on the monthly registration data from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.
Mecklenburg County: The countywide tax rate for FY2006 is $0.8368 per $100 assessed valuation. Tax bills for property in the unincorporated areas include an additional law enforcement service district tax rate of $0.1768 added to the countywide tax rate. The law enforcement service district tax funds police service in those areas. It is based on the percentage of County residents who live in unincorporated areas. Residents of Charlotte and the six towns pay their share of police service costs through property taxes levied by their respective municipalities.
Cities and Towns: The City of Charlotte property tax rate for FY2006 is $0.42 per $100 assessed valuation. Property within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's six towns is assessed a county tax rate and a city or town tax rate. The combined 2005-2006 City/County tax rate for property within the City of Charlotte is $1.2568 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Cornelius is $1.0968, Davidson is $1.1818, Huntersville is $1.1168, Matthews is $1.1443, Mint Hill is $1.1118, and Pineville is $1.1368.
Solid Waste Fees: For residential property within the Charlotte city limits, the tax bill includes two solid waste fees. The Charlotte solid waste fee is $45 for a single-family residence or $27 for a multi-family residence. The solid waste fee pays the disposal costs for trash collected in Charlotte. The County solid waste fee of $12 is used to pay for recycling and waste reduction services. Tax bills for all residential property within Mecklenburg County, except that which is located in Matthews, will include the County solid waste fee.
Tax bills are mailed to the owner of record at the address shown on the listing as of January 1, 2005. According to North Carolina law, failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or interest charges.
Tax Contact Information:
Charlotte Mecklenburg Call Center 311 including Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, and Solid Waste)
Business Tax Collection Division 704-336-6315 (for business licenses, room occupancy, prepared food and beverage and vehicle rental taxes)
Business Personal Property Listing/Assessing 704-336-6382
Individual Personal Property Listing Assessing 704-336-6394.
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As of July 5, 2005
CHARMECK 311 GOES LIVE
Beginning today, all customer requests for information and services, including questions regarding Taxes, can be answered by dialing 311.
CHARMECK 311 will handle customer service calls for Animal Control, Code Enforcement, Storm Water, Transportation, Utilities, Solid Waste Services, Non-Emergency Police Services (NEPS), Mecklenburg County Tax and Parks and Recreation.
Callers will speak with a generalist who can provide basic information and answer questions that the former departmental customer service staff handled. Callers can also get directory assistance to City and County Offices, schedules for meetings of City and County government and information about various City and County services. Specialists trained in tax and utility issues will be on hand to assist callers if a generalist is not able to address their issue. Complex calls, beyond the scope of 311 and those requiring extensive research and investigation, will be connected directly to the relevant department.
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As of March 31, 2005
DEADLINE TO PAY COUNTY TAXES BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER
About 28,000 Mecklenburg County property owners have not yet paid their 2004 real and personal property tax bills. Those owners will have their names and the amount they owe published in The Charlotte Observer if payment is not received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2005. Huntersville and Cornelius delinquencies will be published in the Huntersville Herald.
(Full Story)
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As of March 23, 2005
APPLY NOW: SENIOR CITIZENS ELIGIBLE FOR PROPERTY TAX BREAK Many senior citizens may be eligible for a break on their property taxes and not even know it. North Carolina gives elderly or disabled citizens an exemption of $20,000 or 50% of the appraised value of their home whichever is greatest. The deadline to apply for the exemption for the 2005 tax bill is June 1. (More)
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As of January 5, 2004
DEADLINE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT INTEREST Mecklenburg County residents are reminded that property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2005, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked on or before that date. Residents are also reminded that the Tax Collector's office will be closed on Friday, December 31. Those who wish to pay taxes in person before the end of 2004 must do so by Thursday, December 30. (more)
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As of December 20, 2004
eCheck: COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN NOW PAY TAXES ONLINE FROM A CHECKING ACCOUNT Mecklenburg County property owners have a new payment option for property taxes. The Tax Collector now accepts electronic check, or eCheck, payments for real estate, personal property, and registered motor vehicle taxes from the Tax Collections web site. This service allows taxpayers to pay a bill online from a checking account. (more)
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As of December 17, 2004
TAX COLLECTOR AUTHORIZED TO SEIZE STATE INCOME TAX REFUNDS TO PAY DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX BILLS
The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will begin utilizing a new tool to collect delinquent vehicle, real estate, and personal property tax dollars. Mecklenburg County is participating in a North Carolina Setoff Debt program that authorizes the County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes, interest, and fees. (Full Story)
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As of September 3, 2004
The Business Tax Collection Unit mailed out approximately 20,000 letters for Delinquent Privilege Licenses to area businesses
All business licenses in Mecklenburg County expired on June 30, 2004. The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector mailed renewal notices to all businesses on May 25, 2004 advising them of the renewal deadline. To avoid additional taxes, the license renewals were to be paid on or before July 1, 2004. (more)
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As of August 27, 2004
The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector has mailed tax bills to approximately 316,000 property owners and mortgage companies Property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2005, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before that date. (Full Story)
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As of July 14, 2004
The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector began collecting real estate and personal property taxes for the town of Cornelius
The town will collect 2003 and prior year taxes while Mecklenburg County will collect 2004 and future year taxes.
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As of July 1, 2004
A new Municipal Service District (MSD) was created within the Town of Davidson
Municipal Service Districts are created to promote economic development through services, programs, and advocacy. MSDs are funded through an additional ad valorem (property) tax levy on property located within the district.
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As of January 1, 2004
The annual income limit for elderly property owners to qualify for the Property Tax Homestead Exclusion and/or a partial refund of the City of Charlotte Auto Fee, increased to $18,800
The limit on annual income is just one of the many factors used to determine eligibility for one or both of these programs.
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As of THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2005
DEADLINE TO PAY COUNTY TAXES BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER
Charlotte, NC - About 28,000 Mecklenburg County property owners have not yet paid their 2004 real and personal property tax bills. Those owners will have their names and the amount they owe published in The Charlotte Observer if payment is not received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2005. Huntersville and Cornelius delinquencies will be published in the Huntersville Herald.
The list of delinquent taxpayers is scheduled for publication in The Charlotte Observer on Sunday, April 17. Each tax bill published will be charged an additional fee for the cost of the advertisement. That fee is in addition to interest charged for late payment. Any 2004 tax bill paid after January 5, 2005, is charged 2 percent interest for the month of January and 0.75 percent interest for each month thereafter until the bill is paid.
REFUND AT RISK: New this year, delinquent taxpayers run the risk of having their North Carolina state income tax refund seized to pay off their County property taxes. Mecklenburg County is participating in the N.C. Setoff Debt Program. This program authorizes the Tax Collector to submit the delinquent tax amounts of taxpayers to the State and the State distributes income tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck. *
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, real estate valuations, or the setoff debt program can call Tax Support Services at 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
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As of March 23, 2005
APPLY NOW: SENIOR CITIZENS ELIGIBLE FOR PROPERTY TAX BREAK
Charlotte, NC - Many senior citizens may be eligible for a break on their property taxes and not even know it. North Carolina gives elderly or disabled citizens an exemption of $20,000 or 50% of the appraised value of their home whichever is greatest. The deadline to apply for the exemption for the 2005 tax bill is June 1.
The property must be the permanent residence owned and occupied by a qualifying owner. To qualify, an owner must meet the following requirements as of January 1, 2005:
At least 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled.
Has an income for the preceding year of not more than $19,200.
North Carolina resident.
The application deadline for a senior citizen or disabled citizen who did not receive the exemption last year is June 1. Anyone who received the exemption last year does not need to re-apply.
In Mecklenburg County, an application for exemption can be obtained from the office of Property Assessment and Land Records Management at 700 East Stonewall Street, Charlotte. To receive an application in the mail, call 704-336-4600.
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As of January 5, 2005
DEADLINE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT INTEREST
Charlotte, NC - Mecklenburg County residents are reminded that property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2005, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked on or before that date. Residents are also reminded that the Tax Collector's office will be closed on Friday, December 31. Those who wish to pay taxes in person before the end of 2004 must do so by Thursday, December 30.
Property owners whose payments are received or postmarked after January 5, 2005, will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2005 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid. All unpaid taxes are subject to collection action including being advertised in The Charlotte Observer, garnishment, seizure of property, and foreclosure.
There are two new items this year. First, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector is participating in a North Carolina program that authorizes the County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes, interest, and fees. After appropriate notice to the property owner, the Tax Collector will submit the accounts of selected delinquent taxpayers to the program, called the "setoff debt" program. The State of North Carolina will then distribute tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt. Second, taxpayers may now pay taxes online with a check or credit card. The new eCheck service enables taxpayers to pay taxes using a checking account for a flat $2.00 fee. The online credit card payment service continues to be an option for a fee based on the amount paid.
There are several ways to pay your tax bill:
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck. *
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/eCheck option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, real estate valuations, or the setoff debt program can call Tax Support Services at 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
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As of December 20, 2004
eCheck: COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN NOW PAY TAXES ONLINE FROM A CHECKING ACCOUNT
Charlotte, NC - Mecklenburg County property owners have a new payment option for property taxes. The Tax Collector now accepts electronic check, or eCheck, payments for real estate, personal property, and registered motor vehicle taxes from the Tax Collections web site. This service allows taxpayers to pay a bill online from a checking account.
The taxpayer begins by going to the Web site http://paytax.charmeck.org. The taxpayer selects to pay his taxes online, access his tax bill, and choose whether to use a credit card or eCheck. The taxpayer enters information found on the bottom portion of his check. Once the transaction is complete, the amount of tax and a $2 convenience fee are deducted from the taxpayer's checking account.
eCheck is offered by the Tax Collector through the County's partnership with Official Payments Corporation. Official Payments has administered the County's credit card tax payment system since 2001.
CONVENIENCE FEES: The convenience fees for eCheck and credit card payments differ. The eCheck convenience fee is a flat charge of $2.00 regardless of the amount of tax paid. Credit card convenience fees continue to vary depending on the dollar amount paid. These fees are not paid to the County. They are the cost of administering the credit card and eCheck options.
eCheck can only be used when paying a tax bill online. eCheck cannot be used when paying by phone, mail or in-person. Traditional payment options remain available to taxpayers who do not wish to pay the convenience fee.
By Internet: Log on to http://paytax.charmeck.org and use your credit card, debit card or eCheck.. *
By phone: Call 1-877-533-0072 and use your credit/debit card.*
By mail: Mail your check using the return envelope in your tax bill.
In person: Pay at the Tax Collector's office at the Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 700 East Stonewall Street in Charlotte between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector.
*A convenience fee is assessed when using the credit/debit/E-check option. Credit/debit/eCheck payments are not accepted at the Tax Collector's office.
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As of December 17, 2004
TAX COLLECTOR AUTHORIZED TO SEIZE STATE INCOME TAX REFUNDS TO PAY DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX BILLS
Charlotte, NC - The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector will begin utilizing a new tool to collect delinquent vehicle, real estate, and personal property tax dollars. Mecklenburg County is participating in a North Carolina program that authorizes the County to seize N.C. income tax refunds to satisfy delinquent taxes, interest, and fees.
The program is called the Setoff Debt program, created by the N.C. General Assembly and authorized by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.
The Tax Collector will begin submitting the accounts of selected delinquent taxpayers to the program. The State of North Carolina will then distribute tax refund money to the County to satisfy the tax debt.
Delinquent taxpayers will be mailed notices about the Setoff Debt Program, giving them an opportunity to pay their property taxes before their state tax refund is affected. The Tax Collector will begin mailing these notices for delinquent taxes on January 10, 2005. The deadline to pay 2004 property taxes is January 5, 2005, after which unpaid 2004 tax bills will be considered delinquent.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, real estate valuations, or the setoff debt program can call Tax Support Services at 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is also available on the Office of the Tax Collector's Web site. Visit http://tax.charmeck.org and then click on Office of the Tax Collector.
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As of September 3, 2004
Approximately 20,000 letters for Delinquent Privilege Licenses were mailed to area businesses.
All business licenses in Mecklenburg County expired on June 30, 2004. As of September 3, approximately 20,000 businesses had failed to renew their Privilege Licenses. The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector mailed renewal notices to all businesses on May 25 instructing owners to renew Privilege Licenses on or before July 1, 2204 to avoid additional taxes.
An additional tax of 5% per month for the City and/or County went into effect July 2nd, with a minimum tax of $5.00.
If a business has been either sold or closed, owners are required to notify the BTC office by returning an application, or by calling the Business Tax Collection Unit at (704) 336-6315.
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As of August 27, 2004
Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills Were Mailed.
Mecklenburg County property owners will soon find a tax bill or mortgage letter in their mailbox. On August 27, the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector mailed tax bills to approximately 316,000 property owners and mortgage companies.
Tax bills were mailed directly to those who pay the bill - property owners or mortgage companies with which taxes are escrowed. Property owners who escrow their property taxes with their mortgage companies will receive a notification from the Tax Collector. Owners should review the notice carefully to avoid errors.
Property tax payments must be paid on or before January 5, 2005, to avoid interest charges. If mailed, the payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before that date. Property owners whose payments are postmarked on or after January 6, 2005, will be charged 2-percent interest for the month of January 2005 and an additional Ύ-percent every month thereafter until paid. All unpaid taxes will be advertised in The Charlotte Observer and an additional advertising fee will be added to each bill.
Taxpayers with questions about their bill, property listings, or real estate valuations can call Tax Support Services at 704-336-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone lines are typically busy in the weeks after tax bills are mailed, so callers are asked to be patient during this time.
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The Tax Collector and Sheriff formed a partnership to levy (seize) and sell registered motor vehicles for delinquent taxes.
The Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution permitting the Tax Collector to issue warrants to the Sheriff for registered motor vehicles to pay delinquent taxes. Taxpayers are mailed at least three notices and one warning letter before a warrant is issued for the vehicle.
