Frequently Asked Questions

Real Estate

When are my taxes due and when does interest begin?
Property taxes are due and payable September 1st of the current year. On January 6th, taxes are considered delinquent and accrue interest at a rate of 2% for the month of January, plus 3/4 % each month thereafter. For payments which are mailed, interest and penalties are determined by the date of the U.S. Postal postmark; postal meter dates are not accepted.

My mortgage company should pay this bill. Why am I getting this bill and is there anything I am required to do?
Even if you have an escrow account with a mortgage company the tax bill will be sent to you in during the months of July or August. Most mortgage companies or their agent will request a copy of the tax bill and will pay the bill before it becomes delinquent on January 6th of each year. The Tax Department depends on the mortgage company to determine which bills they require for payment. If you are unsure as to whether your tax bill has been paid please check with your mortgage company

May I Make Partial Payments?
Partial payments are accepted in the Tax Collections Office.

Will my taxes be going up this year?
The County’s tax rate is set annually by the County Commissioners based on the budget needs of the county. Most property owners do not experience a tax increase unless there is a change to the property, a change in the parcel’s tax exempt status or change in the tax rate.

My house wasn’t complete as of January 1st. Why did I get a tax bill for it?
Per North Carolina General Statutes, you were assessed on the percentage of the house that was complete as of January 1st. The full value of the house will be reflected on your tax bill once the house is completed.

The value of my home appears to have declined over the past several months. Why does my assessed value remain unchanged?
Per North Carolina General Statutes, changes in the market due to general economic conditions (up or down) occurring since the last revaluation date (January 1, 2022) cannot be considered until the next revaluation which is scheduled in Jones County for January 1, 2030.

When can I appeal my current assessment?
You may appeal your assessment prior to the adjournment of the Board of Equalization and Review. Please contact the Jones County Tax Office at 252-448-2546 to schedule an informal appeal prior to March 1st. Appeals registered after March 1st may need to be heard formally by the Board of Equalization and Review.

My house or outbuilding has been damaged or removed since January 1st of the current year. Will I still owe property taxes on these improvements?
Yes. Per North Carolina General Statutes the value of a parcel is based on the state of the property as of January 1st of the current year. We strive to have current data for your property so please take the time to contact our office at 252-448-2546 to let us know if any buildings or improvements have been torn down, damaged, moved, or added since your last tax bill.

What is use value assessment and taxation?
We are required to appraise all agricultural and forested tracts at fair market value and use value. The fair market value is derived from the recent sales of land in Jones County. The use value of land is established by the North Carolina Use Value Advisory Board under the supervision of the Agricultural Extension Service of North Carolina State University. The Board follows the guidelines as set forth in the General Statues.

There is usually a substantial difference between the market value and the use value of most land in our County. If you have previously applied for use value taxation, the value as noted in your Notice of Property Revaluation reflects the market value of the property and the deferred value. When you subtract the deferred value from the market value, you obtain the use value or tax value as indicated on the notice.

For those whom have never applied for use value taxation on agricultural and forested tracts, you are encouraged to do so. An Application for Use Value and Taxation can be obtained from the Jones County Assessor’s Office. All new applications need to be completed in full and returned to the assessor’s office during the regular listing period in January. The office will be glad to answer any questions pertaining to this program.

Personal Property

What qualifies as taxable individual personal property?
Personal property consists of boats and motors, jet skis, mobile homes (that are set up on land owned by someone other than the mobile home owner), aircraft (includes hot air balloons and gliders), and all unlicensed (untagged) automobiles, trucks, trailers, campers, and motorcycles. Business personal property includes business machinery and equipment, tractors, and other farm equipment used to produce income.

When should I list personal property?
During the month of January each year. We begin listing personal property on January 2nd. The last day to list or postmark the listing form is January 31st. A 10% late listing penalty will be charged for listings received or postmarked after January 31st.

If I still own the same personal property as I listed last year, do I still need to list?
Yes. Personal property must be listed each year.

When should I let you know that I have sold my personal property?
This should be reported during the listing period on the listing form, you will need to provide the name of the new owner and the date of sale, as well as a bill of sale.

My boat is registered with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, and I keep a current tag on my boat trailer. Do I still have to list my boat?
Yes. A boat trailer with a valid unexpired tag is considered a registered vehicle and does not need to be listed. However, boats are not tagged like the trailers and need to be listed each January in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes.

I sold some of my personal property during the current calendar year that was listed in January of the current year. Will my tax bill be prorated based on the period of time that I owned the property?
No. There is no provision in the tax law to prorate individual personal property taxes, with the exception of registered motor vehicles. You are assessed based on the status of the property as of January 1st.

When will I receive the bill for my personal property?
You should receive your tax statement in late July.

How and when may I appeal the value of my personal property?
All appeals must be made in writing to the Jones County Tax Department, P.O. Box 87, Trenton, NC 28585 within 30 days of the bill date.

Tax Payments/Collections

What methods of payment can be used to pay taxes online?
At this time we only except MasterCard or Visa cards for on-line payments. You can also pay by e-check.

Can partial payments be made online?
Partial payments cannot be paid on line. To make partial payment you must pay by mail or at the Tax Department with cash, check, money order, or certified check.

May I pay my taxes with a personal check?
We accept checks made payable to the Jones County Tax Collector on most accounts. When paying by mail, please include a copy of your tax bill and/or the account number on your check. For your protection, please do not send cash through the mail.

What if my tag is blocked?
Blocked tags may be paid online or in person.

May I make payments on my taxes?
In most cases, yes. Payments on taxes that are not delinquent are always accepted. Payment plans may be arranged on delinquent taxes only if no enforced collection action has been started.

When will my payment be posted when paid online?
Your payment will be credited on the date of the transaction and will be reflected on our website on the same day.

Why are processing fees and transaction fees charged when paying online?
These fees are charged by Official Payments to cover payment transactions made on the web site; this fee is not retained by Jones County.

Will I receive a receipt when my payment is made online?
After completing your payment transaction you will be able to print a paid receipt.

Will I be able to take a receipt to the tag office to get my renewal?
Yes, after completing the payment transaction you will be able to print a paid receipt.

What if I find an error on my bill?
Please call us immediately if you see an error on the bill. For questions concerning motor vehicle bills such as incorrect values or situs (wrong fire district or city) you must call the Tax Department at 252-448-2546 within 30 days of the due date.

Do I still owe the taxes if I have traded my car?
In most cases, yes. If you transferred the license tag for the old car to the new car, there will be no changes to the bill. If you sold your car and turned in the tag, you must bring a copy of the NCDMV FS20 receipt from the tag agency to the Jones County Tax Collector’s Office within 12 months from the date the tag was surrendered. You may be eligible for a proration of your tax bill depending on how much “time” was left on the tag. This proration could mean a reduction of your bill or a refund of taxes already paid.

What happens if I don’t pay my taxes?
Delinquent taxes are subject to collection action as authorized by the North Carolina General Statutes. These actions may include garnishment of wages, attachment of bank accounts, debt setoff of delinquent tax bills from individual North Carolina tax returns and lottery winnings, levy (seizure) of personal property, and foreclosure of real estate. There will be additional fees added to your bill when these actions are taken.

How do I find out if the mortgage company paid my tax bill?
If you are unsure as to whether your tax bill has been paid, please check with your mortgage company.