TAX NEWS - June 2010

North Carolina Tax: Tax collector sets sights on those who still haven't paid

CHARLOTTE -- More than nine months after most property tax bills were due in Mecklenburg County, the collector, Neal Dixon, is still looking for those who haven't paid.

Dixon says 97.9 percent of taxes are already paid, but that means more than $32 million is still uncollected.

He says he will do whatever is necessary to collect the taxes, even foreclosing on homes and taking state income tax refunds.

"In instances where that tax is not paid, then North Carolina law allows us to seize that property and sell it for tax amount due," said Dixon.

By law, the tax collector has 10 years to collect back taxes. Dixon says eventually he gets more than 99.9 percent of due taxes.

For residents who paid their 2009 property tax bill, the 2010 bill will be on its way later this summer.