Towns and counties do not always line up.
County lines were drawn long before many of today's neighborhoods. Here is how the towns around Fuquay-Varina appear in official county and town sources.
- Cary: Wake, Chatham, and Durham counties, according to the Town of Cary.
- Raleigh: listed by Wake County and on Durham County's current tax rate table.
- Morrisville: listed by Wake County and on Durham County's current tax rate table.
- Angier: a Harnett County municipality whose jurisdiction extends into Wake County.
- Apex and Holly Springs: listed among Wake County's twelve municipalities.
The areas we serve page links each town in one place.
A mailing address is not a tax boundary.
The U.S. Census Bureau notes that the city name in a mailing address may differ from the legal municipality where a home is located. An address that says Apex or Cary does not, by itself, tell you which town or county taxes apply.
The county bill does. It identifies the tax office that sent it, and it is the record to keep.
Why the bill matters for your income tax return.
The IRS allows an itemized deduction, subject to limitations, for state and local real property taxes and for personal property taxes based only on value, such as the value-based tax on a car. Whether itemizing helps depends on the rest of your return.
If your lender pays property taxes from an escrow account, your year-end mortgage statement may show the amount paid. Bring it along with the county bill so the two can be compared during individual return preparation.
Keep the record simple.
A few items cover most situations.
- The county property tax bill for each property you own.
- Proof of payment, or the escrow amount shown by your lender.
- Value-based vehicle property tax records, if you plan to discuss them.
- A note about any property bought or sold during the year.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions you may have.
How do I know which county billed my property?
The bill names the county tax office that sent it. If you pay through an escrow account, your lender's records or the county's online property records can confirm it.
Are property taxes deductible on a federal return?
The IRS allows an itemized deduction for certain state and local taxes, including real property taxes and value-based personal property taxes, subject to limitations. Whether you benefit depends on your full return.
Does living in two-county Cary change my state income tax return?
Your North Carolina individual income tax return is a state return either way. The county matters for the property tax records you bring.
Should I send my property tax bill with my inquiry?
No. The first inquiry only needs your contact information and the service you need. Share records later through the document process agreed with the practice.