Estimate your North Carolina property tax based on the state's 0.74% average effective rate. Enter your home value for an instant, free calculation.
Enter any tax exemption amount you qualify for in North Carolina
North Carolina's effective property tax rate is among the lowest in the Southeast. There's no state property tax at all — counties appraise homes at full market value and revalue at least every eight years, so bills can jump in a reappraisal year.
The property tax is ad valorem (value-based). County assessors appraise real property at 100% of market value and must revalue at least once every eight years (some do so every four). There is no state property tax; rates are set entirely by counties, municipalities, and special districts.
| Home Value | Estimated Annual Tax | Monthly (Escrow) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $1,850 | $154/mo |
| $282,000 (median) | $2,087 | $174/mo |
| $600,000 | $4,440 | $370/mo |
Effective rates vary within North Carolina. These figures are median-tax-to-median-value estimates from U.S. Census ACS data (2019–2023 5-year) for some of the most populous counties:
| County | Effective Rate |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 0.80% |
| Wake County | 0.75% |
| Guilford County | 0.92% |
| Forsyth County | 0.90% |
| Durham County | 0.93% |
| Cumberland County | 1.06% |
| Gaston County | 0.85% |
| Buncombe County | 0.61% |
Among these counties, effective rates range from about 0.61% in Buncombe County to 1.06% in Cumberland County. Your actual rate depends on the local mill/millage set by your county, city, and school district.
The Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion exempts the greater of $25,000 or 50% of a permanent residence's appraised value for owners 65+ or totally and permanently disabled whose income is within the annual limit ($37,900 for 2025).
The Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion excludes the first $45,000 of assessed value for honorably discharged veterans with a 100% permanent service-connected disability (and unremarried surviving spouses) with no age or income limit. A Circuit Breaker program caps taxes at a share of income for qualifying owners 65+ or disabled and defers the excess.
Bills are typically mailed mid-year; taxes are due September 1 and become delinquent if unpaid after January 5. Interest accrues from January 6 (2% the first month, then 0.75% per month).
Appeal your value to the county Board of Equalization and Review, which usually meets between April and May; appeals must generally be filed before the board adjourns. Decisions can be appealed to the NC Property Tax Commission and then the courts.
North Carolina's effective property tax rate is low — about 0.62%–0.74% of home value depending on the source. The median bill is around $1,700, well below the national median.
Taxes are due September 1 and are not delinquent until after January 5; interest begins accruing January 6.
Seniors 65+ and disabled owners under the income limit may exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of home value; 100% disabled veterans may exclude the first $45,000 regardless of income; and a Circuit Breaker program can cap taxes as a share of income.