Making the most of property assessors offices in North Carolina will require the office to assess the market value of a property. This value is then multiplied by the tax rate to determine the actual tax that the owner must pay on the property each year. Property tax rates may be set by organizations such as cities, counties or school districts.

North Carolina property assessors offices use several factors such as location and size to determine the value of a property. This assessment is usually accurate and requires a property value appeal only on rare occasions. There are three things you need to do when evaluating the property value as determined by the assessor’s office:

1. Obtain the information the North Carolina real property assessor uses to make the assessment. You should already know the size and location of the property, but the assessor also will be able to provide the value of other properties in your area.
2. Get a professional appraisal so you may compare it to the North Carolina property assessments.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. North Carolina assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.

Action Steps
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Learn more about the laws regarding North Carolina property records

Each state has laws that provide guidelines on the way that property values are assessed. There also may be laws that specify what property tax information is publicly available.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Revenue provides regulations regarding property taxes in addition to current updates. Sun Belt Real Estate Guides offers an overview of North Carolina's property tax system.

Find out how professional appraisers determine North Carolina property values

Appraisers may use different methods to estimate the value of your property. You will want to ensure the professional appraiser considers the same factors as the property assessor.

I recommend: Sunrise Appraisals offers an overview of its property appraisal process. The Leonard Appraisal Group provides a FAQ on property appraisals.

Learn how your county performs a NC property assessment

Many counties have online resources available to help you with your property tax assessment. You should be able to locate this information on your county's website, in addition to other information regarding property taxes.

I recommend: The Yadkin County Tax Collector offers information on property assessments specific to that county. The Carteret County Tax Assessor describes the tax assessor's duties and the property assessment process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your North Carolina property assessor to see if you qualify for any exemptions on your property assessment. Exemptions may be recognized for disabled veterans, senior citizens or non-profit organizations. File any appeals to your current tax assessment before the tax deadline. It will be more difficult to obtain a favorable ruling on an appeal after the deadline.

North Carolina property assessors' offices use estimated property values for tax purposes. However, the records that North Carolina property assessors collect contain valuable information for the property owner.

Familiarizing yourself with the North Carolina Assessor's Office can be very useful. The data collected is public, thus easy for people to search. The information the offices collect can be used to:

1. Research NC property values to learn the value of your property and the property that surrounds it.

2. Determine taxes or potential taxes on properties. By determining these taxes, you will have an accurate picture of true North Carolina property values.

3. Research potential properties through real estate records. Old sale records can help investors know a property's true worth.

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Find online records to look up North Carolina property assessments

There are various ways to find online records for property assessors' offices. North Carolina has several options. Property records are public information and many North Carolina counties have search engines on their websites to look up the records.

I recommend: These counties offer free North Carolina property records on their websites: Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake. Also, Assessor Links USA has a complete list links for NC property assessors.

Know the laws for NC property assessment

By knowing the laws for determining North Carolina property values and assessing tax, property owners will be better able to understand their tax bill and possibly work to lower it. For example, there are several property tax exemptions available in North Carolina including those for seniors and disabled veterans.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Revenue outlines property tax rules, rates and exemptions for the entire state. Also, Buncombe County outlines the different types of tax exemptions available in North Carolina and has forms available for download.

Learn the process to contact North Carolina property assessors or appeal property taxes

Don't hesitate to appeal if you feel your property taxes are incorrect. North Carolina property assessors estimate the value on hundreds of properties and it is not uncommon to make mistakes. If you feel your property taxes are inflated, an appeal could save you thousands.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Revenue walks taxpayers through the steps to appeal property taxes. Also, a North Carolina attorney recommended by the American Property Tax Counsel can help to file an appeal on property tax.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The property value determined by North Carolina assessors may not be the true worth of the property. Go through a North Carolina property appraiser to get a second opinion.
• •  Use the records available via North Carolina property assessors' offices to research your tax bill or those of your neighbors. If your bill looks higher than similar properties, don't be afraid to call the assessor's office and ask questions.

A North Carolina real property assessor, or appraiser, is a licensed expert who assesses the fair market value of real property in order to determine the local property taxes the owners pay each year based upon the applicable formula for the state of North Carolina and county of residence. Typically an individual assessor specializes in assessing the value of either residential or commercial property. Those working in the North Carolina assessor’s office evaluate properties based upon other buildings in that area and keep relevant public records.

While on-the-job training is usually available, state and federal regulations are in place for individuals to become North Carolina assessors. There are many ways to obtain the necessary property assessor’s offices – North Carolina education and training. Some of these education strategies include:

1. Take courses geared toward a career as a North Carolina assessor.

2. Meet the requirements to earn your North Carolina property assessor’s license.

3. Read publications relevant to North Carolina property assessments.

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Obtain a bachelor's degree to become a North Carolina property assessor

While there is no degree specific to property appraisals or assessments, as of 2008 the federal government requires all individuals applying for an appraiser or assessor license to have a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent of such in credit hours). Typically, a related field of study such as economics, finance or real estate is an appropriate major.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for training and qualification requirements for most assessors and appraisers. The Center for Real Estate at the Belk College of Business UNC Charlotte offers various real estate courses in undergraduate and graduate programs. Study Finance at the Wingate University School of Business.

Acquire your North Carolina property appraiser license

In order to become a North Carolina property assessor, you must obtain a real estate appraiser's license. It is a requirement for all states that their licensing and certification requirements for assessors and appraisers conform to those requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board. Typically, the requirements to obtain an assessors license include specific training classes, on-the-job training time and the passing of specified exams.

I recommend: Read the requirements for becoming an appraiser on the North Carolina Appraisal Board website. Obtain your appraiser license, and take continuing education courses, through the Van Education Center.

Study articles and manuals relevant to current NC property assessment

The North Carolina property assessors office that you work for may provide you with a manual for your position. However, it would be beneficial to obtain additional manuals and articles from state and federal organizations that can increase your ability to perform your job successfully. Typically, these publications will apply current market trends and property tax formulas to the basics, giving you the ability to produce more accurate assessment results.

I recommend: Study the regulations laid out in the North Carolina Appraisers Act by accessing it through the North Carolina Appraisal Board website. Access the Tax Times Newsletter, as well as the events calendar for conferences and training workshops, offered by the North Carolina Association of Assessing Officers.

North Carolina property assessors offices laws and regulations deal with property taxes that are based on the estimated value of real property. The fair market value is the most common standard of value used in North Carolina, although there are other standards, such as the foreclosure value or distressed sale value. A property tax exemption is applied by reducing a property's assessed value by a specified amount before calculating the property tax.

There are a variety of information sources regarding the laws on North Carolina property values. These sources include the three following categories:

1. The North Carolina state government. These sources offer official information, including state laws that deal with property assessors in North Carolina.
2. County and municipal governments in North Carolina. These sources provide the rules and procedures for a specific property assessors office in North Carolina.
3. North Carolina law firms that include property law as one of their areas of practice. These firms may provide information on specific issues of property tax laws in North Carolina.
   

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Examine the laws that control North Carolina assessors

The state government of North Carolina will have specific laws for property tax assessors. Private organizations also provide summaries and general information on property tax assessor laws in North Carolina.

I recommend: The North Carolina Department of Revenue summarizes property tax law in North Carolina and references the relevant portion of the North Carolina General Statute. The Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse provides an overview of property tax exemptions under North Carolina law.

Study the procedures for conducting NC property assessment in a particular jurisdiction

Local governments have specific procedures for property assessments and also may offer a North Carolina property tax search. A complete list of North Carolina property tax records may also be available.

I recommend: The Tax Administrator for Burke County provides the procedure for assessing property that is specific to Burke County. The Office of Tax Administration for Cabarrus County offers an overview of the appraisal process and also has the complete manual for performing appraisals in Cabarrus County.

Review North Carolina assessor laws from law firms in North Carolina

North Carolina lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on the property taxes that are assessed in North Carolina. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in North Carolina.

I recommend: Everett, Gaskins, Hancock & Stevens specializes in tax appeals and provides specific information on property assessment laws in North Carolina. Carruthers & Roth provides articles that deal with property assessment law in North Carolina, such as "Law and Economics of Regulating Local Economic Development Incentives."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many laws on North Carolina property assessments are the result of the Financial Institutions Reform and Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The savings and loan crisis of the late 80s resulted in the passage of the FIRREA in 1989, which required the adoption of property appraisal standards in the United States.