North Carolina Property Tax Calculator

How North Carolina lists, reappraises, excludes and collects residential tax

North Carolina appraises property at its true value in money, meaning market value.⁴ The value of real property is fixed as of January 1 of the county's reappraisal year, while ownership is determined every year as of January 1.² Each county must reappraise all real property as of January 1 of its scheduled year and every eighth year after that.¹ A county with 75,000 or more people must reappraise sooner if its sales assessment ratio falls below.85 or rises above 1.15, and county commissioners may adopt a shorter cycle by resolution.¹ Between reappraisals, a home keeps the value assigned when it was last appraised unless one of the statutory reasons applies, such as a clerical error or a physical change to the property.³

Property is listed each year from the first business day of January to January 31. In a reappraisal year, the county can extend that period by up to 60 days.⁵ The county board of equalization and review first meets between the first Monday in April and the first Monday in May. To get a hearing, ask in writing or in person before the board adjourns.⁶ In a year without a reappraisal, the board may not sit later than July 1 except to hear requests made on time. In a reappraisal year, it must finish its work by December 1.⁶ The board must mail its decision within 30 days after it adjourns.⁶ You then have 30 days from the date the decision was mailed to appeal to the Property Tax Commission, which acts as the State board of equalization and review.⁷

Under the elderly or disabled exclusion, a qualifying owner excludes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the appraised value of their permanent residence. To qualify, the owner must be at least 65 or totally and permanently disabled, live in North Carolina and have income within the limit.⁸ The limit applies to the previous year's income. It is $38,800 for the 2026 tax year and $39,900 for the 2027 tax year.⁹¹⁰ Married applicants who live together must count both spouses' incomes. The residence includes the dwelling site up to one acre. Applications are accepted through June 1 before the tax year.⁸

The circuit breaker is open to owners who are 65 or older or totally and permanently disabled and who have owned and occupied the home for at least five years. It caps the tax at 4% of income when income is at or below the limit. When income is above the limit but no more than 150% of it ($58,200 for the 2026 tax year), the cap is 5% of income.¹¹⁹ The tax above the cap is deferred, not forgiven. It remains a lien on the property. The last three years of deferred taxes become due, with interest, if the owner dies, transfers the home or stops using it as a permanent residence.¹¹⁹ You must file a new application for this program every year.⁹

Under the disabled veteran exclusion, the first $45,000 of appraised value of a permanent residence is excluded. This covers honorably discharged veterans with a total and permanent service-connected disability or who received specially adapted housing benefits under 38 U.S.C. 2101, and their unremarried surviving spouses.¹²⁹ There is no age or income limitation for this program.⁹ Each owner can receive only one of the three relief programs (elderly or disabled exclusion, disabled veteran exclusion or circuit breaker), even if they qualify for more than one.⁹⁸¹²

Property taxes are due September 1 of the fiscal year for which they are levied. You can pay the face amount any time before January 6.¹³ From January 6 to February 1, interest of 2% applies. After February 1, interest accrues at 3/4% a month until the tax is paid.¹³ A county or city can offer discounts for paying early, but only on a schedule approved by the Department of Revenue.¹³