Tax deadline is today
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 5, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MITCH LOEBER
Norris Dyson, left, pays his county taxes to Shamra Lancaster at the Wayne County Tax Department this morning. Today is the final day for Wayne residents to pay property taxes without penalty.
Wayne County residents have until 5 p.m. today to pay their 2009 county property taxes without having a penalty tacked on.
Those who don't want to face the traditional last-day long lines at the tax office may still mail in their payment. However, it has to be postmarked by 5 p.m. today, and it must have an official U.S. Postal Service postmark. Office postmarks do not qualify.
Taxes may be paid online as well, but the 5 p.m. deadline still applies.
Taxes not paid by 5 p.m. today will have a 2 percent interest charge tacked onto them. An additional three-fourths of 1 percent will be added at the first of the month for each additional month on which a balance is due.
The tax office is located on the first floor of the county courthouse building.
Meanwhile, the tax-listing period for real and personal property in the county began Monday and continues through Sunday, Jan. 31. Listings made after the listing period closes will be subject to a penalty of 10 percent of the taxes levied. Failure to list property is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
All of the county's real estate is permanently listed and is automatically charged to the owner of record on Jan. 1. Therefore, no listing has to be made on real estate unless improvements have been made to it, or unless the owner's address has changed since Jan. 1.
Tax listing may be done by mail, and listers are in the tax office during normal operating hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Every firm or person who owns any real estate to which improvements have been made since the previous listing must report the improvements to the tax office.
All residents, even those here temporarily, are required to file a return Jan. 1. Armed forces personnel are required to file, under their legal or voting residence, and not by where they might be located on Jan. 1 because of military orders.
Civilian personnel attached to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and who resided in the county on Jan. 1 are required to file a return like any other county resident.
All business firms with property in the county on Jan. 1 must submit a return regardless of the location of the home office or residence of the owner.
Also, firms and persons must report any tangible personal property they own. Such property includes machinery, fixtures and equipment, unlicensed vehicles, boats, motors, jet skis, wave runners, airplanes and mobile homes.
All business firms, in lieu of filing a return, must file a business listing form. County tax officials said that caution should be exercised that the values are identical or reconciled with those appearing in the state income tax return.