Once your bill is paid, the Tax Collector’s Office can remove your block. However, if you mail your payment you must call the Collector’s Office and ask to have the block removed before you can get your tag.
I sold my registered vehicle (car, truck, van, motorcycle, etc). How do I get this vehicle off the tax records?
Your vehicle will not be charged anymore if you do not renew the tag. If you turn it in to the DMV office you may be entitled to a partial refund if taxes are paid or tax bill proration if the taxes are not yet paid. To make any adjustments we need to see a copy of the receipt from DMV for the tag turn in as well as proof of ownership transfer of the vehicle. This could include a copy of the Bill of Sale or a copy of the front and back of the title transfer showing you sold the vehicle.
I transferred my tag to a new vehicle. Why do I have to pay this bill on the old vehicle?
Tax bills are based on the vehicle the license tag was on the day the tag was renewed. This bill needs to be paid and it will cover your new car for the tag year as well. You will receive a bill based on the new vehicle next year.
I have moved to another county and I am receiving a bill from Catawba County. Do I owe this bill?
Yes. The state does not prorate vehicle property taxes from county to county. State law requires you pay the county you lived in on the day the license tag was renewed. You will need to pay this bill and submit a change of address to DMV so they will have your correct address to mail a renewal card. After you renew your tag, the DMV will give your vehicle information to your new county of residence and they will bill you the next time you renew your tag.
I received a tax bill for a car I just purchased a few months ago. Why am I getting a tax bill? Didn’t I pay for this when I registered the car?
When you purchase a car in North Carolina and register it for the first time, you pay state taxes, a road use fee, registration fee, tag and title fees. The tax bill from Catawba County is for county and applicable municipal taxes. You pay this every year and the bill is produced approximately 3 to 4 months after you register or renew the tag for your vehicle. This bill covers a full year beginning with the date the license tag was registered to the date the license tag expires.
My car was stolen but I have a bill. Do I owe the taxes?
Please provide a letter from the insurance company stating they have taken possession of the title and a receipt from the DMV showing that the tag has been turned in or recognized as lost/stolen. Then we may be able to prorate your bill and you will only pay for the time the tag was valid.
Can you change my mailing address on my vehicle tax bill?
No. Address information comes directly to us from the DMV. You need to change it with their offices and they will send us the corrected information the next time you renew your license tag.
The value on my vehicle is not correct. How can I appeal the value?
Call 828-465-8414 or come by the tax office to request an appeal form for your vehicle. The taxes must be paid and appeal must be filed before bill is past due.
I’m in the military and stationed outside of North Carolina. Do I have to pay my bill?
Please call 828-465-8400 to obtain information regarding military personnel and property tax bills.
I have turned in my leased vehicle and the leasing company says I owe this tax bill. What do I do now?
If the leasing company sold the vehicle you turned in, our office will need to see a Bill of Sale from the leasing company and a receipt from DMV showing the tag has been turned in. Our office will then look into prorating the leasing company’s bill. Please note that depending on the lease agreement, some companies pay the taxes and bill the lessee. Others expect the lessee to pay the Office of the Tax Collector directly. If instead of selling the vehicle you turned in, the leasing company leased this vehicle to another person, there are no provisions for prorating the tax bill.
I sent my vehicle to another state, country, etc. Why do I owe this bill when the vehicle is no longer here?
As long as you have a North Carolina tag on the vehicle and it is still registered in your name with DMV the taxes will be due and cannot be prorated.
I countersigned this vehicle for my son, why is my name on the tax bill?
Your name is also on the registration with DMV making you as responsible for the taxes as you are for the car payments.
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