North Carolina’s property tax is “ad valorem,” which means that it is based on the value of property. A county assessor determines the value of a property and is required to revalue a property at least once every eight years. The goal of the reappraisal is to determine the current market value of the property.
Since that reappraised value will affect a homeowner’s taxes for as many as eight years, it is important for homeowners to ensure that the value is accurate. An appraisal that is too high can mean nearly a decade of over-taxation.
There is no state property tax in North Carolina, which means tax rates are determined entirely by local governments. Cities and counties can levy their own taxes, and special tax districts in some areas also collect property taxes for services like fire protection.