Frequently Asked Questions

During the month of January.

Businesses may request an extension for listing, however this must be in writing to the Assessor and received in our office no later than January 31st or postmarked by January 31st. Extensions that meet requirements will be granted an extension until March 1st.

First Monday in April.

The Elderly or Disabled Exclusion provides property tax relief for qualified North Carolinians who are age 65 and over or totally and permanently disabled. The exclusion amount is the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the appraised value of the home and up to one (1) acre of land.

You may be qualified for the Homestead Exemption if:

• YOU ARE at least 65 years of age on January 1st of the tax year in which you wish to claim the exemption; AND 
• YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE’S income did not exceed $27,100 for the year prior to which an application is made. You must own your primary residence, which could be a manufactured home, or condominium or townhome and be a legal resident of Hertford County;

• YOU ARE certified totally and permanently disabled by a licensed physician or governmental agency; AND 
• YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE’S income did not exceed $27,100 for the year prior to which an application is made. You must own your primary residence, which could be a manufactured home, condominium or townhouse and be a legal resident of Hertford County.

It includes your dwelling, the dwelling site (not to exceed one acre), and related improvements such as a garage, carport or storage building. The dwelling may be a single family residence, condominium, townhome or a manufactured home.

For this exemption, the qualifying homeowner may submit an application by mail or in person at the Tax Department.

You must furnish a certification that you are totally and permanently disabled from either a licensed physician (Physician Certification of Disability) or from a government agency such as the Social Security Administration. The agency must have the proper authority to determine qualifications for disability benefits. If you or your spouse is over 65 years old, you do not need to submit a certification of disability. 

Income is defined as all moneys received from every source other than gifts or inheritances from family members. Income does include money received from social security, disability, retirement and rental income. For the year 2011, the income limit is $27,100. This threshold is adjusted annually for cost-of-living. 

If you are required to file a Federal Income Tax return you must provide a copy of the first page of the return. For non income tax filers, other proof of income is required. (See Application for details) Proof of income must reflect income for the year immediately preceding the tax year for which an application is made. (For example, if an application is submitted for 2011, income for 2010 must be reported.) 

Applications are timely filed if received by June 1st of the year for which the exemption is applied

No. You do not need to reapply annually. However, you must notify the Tax Assessor if:

• You move, sell or rent your house, OR 
• You make changes to the owners listed on the deed, OR 
• There is a change in your disability status, OR 
• Your income increases to greater than is allowed to qualify 

The Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment program limits the amount of taxes qualified North Carolinians, who are age 65 and over or totally and permanently disabled, would pay on their permanent residence (homestead). Taxes are limited to a percentage of the taxpayer’s income as shown below. Taxes above that percentage are deferred until there is a disqualifying event that triggers the repayment of the deferred taxes.

You may be qualified for the Circuit Breaker Homestead Tax Deferment Program if:

•  YOU ARE a Hertford County Resident at least 65 years of age on January 1st of the tax year in which you wish to claim the exemption; AND 
• YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE’S income did not exceed $40,650 for the year prior to which an application is made; AND 
• YOU HAVE owned and occupied your current permanent legal residence for five (5) or more years;

• YOU ARE certified totally and permanently disabled by a licensed physician or governmental agency; AND 
• YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE’S income did not exceed $40,650 for the year prior to which an application is made; AND 
• YOU HAVE owned and occupied your current permanent legal residence in Iredell County for Five (5) or more years;

Deferred taxes are the amount of taxes on one’s Homestead/Permanent Residence over and above the limitation (either 4% or 5% of one’s income) granted by the program. Unlike some other tax relief programs, deferred taxes are a lien on the property. The Tax Department keeps a record of the deferred taxes until a disqualifying event triggers the repayment of the deferred taxes.

A disqualifying event would be:

• Death of the owner.
• Transfer of the property.
• Owner ceases to use the property as a permanent residence.

Until a disqualification event occurs, the deferred taxes will not become due. Since incomes can vary from year to year it is possible that you may qualify one year, but not the next, and then re-qualify in a subsequent year.

The last three years of deferred taxes prior to a disqualifying event and any deferred taxes for the current year must be repaid.

Yes, Interest does have to be repaid on deferred taxes. The amount of interest is calculated from the date the taxes would have originally become due.

Income is defined as all moneys received from every source

other than gifts or inheritances from family members.  See Income Examples below.  For the year 2011, the income limit is $40,650. This threshold is adjusted annually for cost-of-living.

INCOME EXAMPLES

It includes your dwelling, the dwelling site (not to exceed one acre), and related improvements such as a garage, carport or storage building. The dwelling may be a single family residence, condominium, townhome or a manufactured home. The tax on additional land and buildings, not part of the homestead/permanent residence, is not subject for any exclusion.

For this exemption, the qualifying homeowner may submit an application by mail, or in person at the Tax Department. Since this program is based on your annual income you must file a new application each year.

You must furnish a certification that you are totally and permanently disabled from either a licensed physician (Physician Certification of Disability) or from a government agency such as the Social Security Administration. The agency must have the proper authority to determine qualifications for disability benefits. If you or your spouse is over 65 years old, you do not need to submit a certification of disability.

If you are required to file a Federal Income Tax return you must provide a copy of the first page of the return. For non income tax filers, other proof of income is required. (See Application for details) Proof of income must reflect income for the year immediately preceding the tax year for which an application is made. (For example, if an application is submitted for 2011, income for 2010 must be reported.)

Applications are timely filed if received by June 1st of the year for which the exemption is applied.

Yes. An annual application is required.