Homeownership is an exciting milestone for many Americans, but it comes with lots of responsibility and sometimes confusing obligations, like property taxes. With different rates, deadlines, and payment methods in each county, it’s important to review your local regulations to know exactly what you’re paying for (and how).

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Property tax 101

Property taxes are a revenue source for local governments to pay for public services like education, emergency services, public libraries, and law enforcement.

Here’s what you need to know about property taxes:

Most property taxes apply to real property like land, buildings, and homes

Your property taxes are calculated by a local tax assessor who determines rates based on your property’s market value and your local tax rate

Property taxes change often because of changing market conditions and municipal budgets

MORE:

How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

What is the property tax rate in Wake County?

Wake County’s average tax rate is 0.81% of a property’s assessed market value, which is slightly higher than North Carolina’s average property tax rate of 0.74%.

You can expect to pay around $1,793 in property taxes per year based on the Wake County average.

How Wake County property taxes are determined

Each of Wake County’s cities, towns, and even school districts is subject to property tax payment.

Wake County local governments assess their needs for public services and community improvement projects, calculate an annual budget, and levy taxes to pay for that budget. The County Auditor determines a tax rate for each district based on these levies.

The Wake County tax assessor

will determine the value of your property based on a fair valuation of the property market in your area. In Wake County, your property is only assessed every four years. Your property tax in Wake County will be 0.81% of this valuation.

You can appeal your property appraisal to the

Board of Equalization and Review

before the tax filing deadline if you think your property has been valued at more than it’s worth.

There are multiple tax relief programs in Wake County, such as the

Senior & Disabled Program

, the

Circuit Breaker Program

, and the

Disabled Veteran Program

. These programs are designed to give tax breaks to members of the community who need them most.

What do Wake County property taxes pay for?

Wake County levies property taxes to fund a variety of services. Depending on your municipality, here are a few services your Wake County property taxes pay for:

Transportation

Roads and highways

Law enforcement

Public health

Building safety & infrastructure

Public libraries

K-12 and community education

Solid waste

Recycling fees

Fire rescue

Public parks

Stormwater management

You can learn more about how taxes are calculated and what fees might be included in your bill on the

Wake County government website.

MORE:

Is car insurance tax deductible?

How to pay property taxes in Wake County

Wake County property tax statements are typically sent out each year in July and are due the following January 5th. If property taxes aren’t paid by this deadline, you’ll be charged 2% interest for the month of January and an additional 0.75% each month after that.

Wake County offers many different payment options for paying your property taxes so you can choose an option that best suits your schedule.

Pay online: Use

Wake County’s online payment portal

(available 24/7) to pay your property taxes. The portal will advise you of the total fee before charging your card.

Pay via Online Banking Bill Pay: Use your financial institution’s online bill pay service to pay your property taxes. You should schedule your payment to be made at least five days before the deadline to account for any processing delays. Make sure you include your property tax account number with the payment.

Pay by Checking Account Online: You can authorize Wake County to

draft a one-time payment

from your checking account. It takes two business days to process this payment method, so make sure you make this payment in advance of the deadline.

Pay in person: You can pay your property tax in person at any of the offices listed under the

Pay in Person

drop-down menu on the Wake County property tax payment webpage. Only the Tax Administration Main Office accepts debit and credit card payments.

Pay by mail: You can mail a check to this address to pay your property tax by mail:

Wake County Tax Administration P.O. Box 580084 Charlotte, NC 28258-0084

Include the account number you want to pay in the memo section of the check. If the payment is made in advance, write “prepayment” in this area as well.

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FAQs

How often are Wake County properties appraised?

From 1976 to 2016, Wake County appraised homes every eight years. As of January 1st, 2020, Wake County conducts a General Reappraisal every four years.

How can I appeal my property’s value?

A request for appeal can be filed online using the Wake County Tax Administration Portal or in writing to a Tax Administration office in Wake County. Make sure to keep copies of all documents for your records.

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