Real Estate Tax FAQs
Technically both the new owner and the former owner are responsible. We do not prorate, so you should check your closing papers to verify your portion was paid. We also notify the new owner that taxes are due on the property they now own.
We bill on a fiscal year basis. The fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th. The tax rate is determined by June 30th and then applied to the tax value and property owner that were in place on January 1st of the same year.
Please visit the Change of Address page for instructions.
We collect for all the cities in the county in addition to Catawba County. We also collect the city taxes for portions of Hickory and Long View that are in Burke County.
No. The requirement to sell tax liens was abolished by the legislature in 1983. The sale of a tax lien is different from the sale of the property by way of a tax foreclosure for failure to pay taxes.
Yes. Each year the office of the Tax Collector advertises with local papers the names of all persons who have not paid Real Estate & Personal Property taxes for the previous year.
Yes. At any time after taxes become delinquent, the Tax Collector has the authority to file a tax foreclosure action to have the property sold for collection of the delinquent taxes. All persons who have an interest in the property have to be named in the action and served with notice of the pending sale of the property. The taxpayer or any other person can pay the taxes and costs of the action at any time prior to the sale of the property. This procedure can take from four to six months to complete. We exhaust every other lawful forced collection action prior to foreclosure.
All sales are advertised in local papers and posted at the County Courthouse. This information is also posted online by our Finance department here.
No. We receive requests from many people to be notified when sales are to be conducted. It is not feasible to notify a long list of persons when property is to be sold. Persons who are interested in tax sales should check the paper, the County Courthouse Bulletin Board, or our online listing.
All sales are public and conducted on the Courthouse steps. The property is sold to the highest bidder. There is a ten (10) day upset period after the sale during which time anyone can pay off the taxes and costs, or can trigger a resale by raising the bid by the greater of five percent (5%) of the previous bid or $750.
No. Any person can pay the taxes but payment of the taxes does not entitle the person to any interest in the property. Unless the person is an owner of the property, he/she should not pay the taxes with the expectation of acquiring title to the property.