Personal Property Information

Personal property includes motor vehicles, boats, campers, trailers, single-wide or with the moving hitch, wheels, and axles attached, double-wide trailers with the moving hitch, wheels, and axles attached, household furnishing or appliances for someone who rented or leased a residence or apartment from you, permanent tagged trailers, and airplanes. Anyone who owns any of these items (excluding licensed motor vehicles) must list them with the Tax Department during the month of January each year.

If you do not receive a property tax listing form, also known as an abstract of taxable property, in the mail please call our office at 910-798-7300 to request one. A 10% late listing penalty will be charged for anyone who does not list their required property with the Tax Department before the January 31 deadline. If January 31 falls on a weekend, the next business day will be the deadline.

Taxpayers have 30 days from the date of the personal property bill to appeal the value. Value appeals will not be accepted past 30 days unless the make, model, or year of the item is incorrect.

2023 Business Personal Property and Personal Property Listing Forms are available on our Forms page.

Personal Property Values

Owners can find personal property values using the following

Unregistered Motor Vehicles: TEC Data pricing guide for current vehicle values. Any vehicle 25 years or older is priced from the Collector Car Guide.
Boats: ABOS Marine Blue Book
Aircrafts: Aircraft Blue Book

Facility List, Mobile Home Parks, Marinas & Aircraft Hangers

Mobile home parks, airplane hangers, marinas, and similar facilities (storage units, etc.) are required to send the Tax Department a facility list reporting the owners of the personal property as of January 1.

Mobile Home Park & Similar Facility Reports

Forms are to be filled out by the operator of the park or storage lot renting or leasing space for three or more house trailers or mobile homes. Any person who fails to submit the report by January 15 of any year shall be liable to the county, taxes on the personal property, plus two hundred fifty dollars ($250); North Carolina General Statute 105-316. *Important information on reports: Name of Owner, Year, Make, Model and Lot Number if applicable.

Marinas & Similar Facility Report

Forms are to be filled out by the operator of the marina or comparable facility renting, leasing or otherwise providing dockage or storage space for three or more boats, vessels, floating homes or floating structures. Any person who fails to submit the report by January 15 of any year shall be liable to the county, taxes on the personal property, plus two hundred fifty dollars ($250); North Carolina General Statute 105-316. This includes boats that are in dry storage.*Important information on reports: Name of Owner, Year, Make, Model and Wildlife Registration Number.

Aircraft Hangers & Similar Facility Report

Forms are to be filled out by the operator of a storage facility renting or leasing space for three or more airplanes or other aircraft. Any person who fails to submit the report by January 15 of any year shall be liable to the county, taxes on the personal property, plus two hundred fifty dollars ($250) North Carolina General Statute 105-316. *Important information on reports: Name of Owner, Year, Make, Model and FAA Number.

A computerized report may be submitted as long as it contains all requested information.

If you have any questions, please call the Tax department. You may find that our phone lines are very busy during the month of January. If you prefer, you may fax or email your questions to the Tax department. Please include a telephone number so that we may reach you to discuss your questions.

Antique Automobiles & Airplanes

North Carolina General Statute 105-330.9 Antique Automobiles

Definition: For the purpose of this section, the term "antique automobile" means a motor vehicle that meets all of the following conditions:

It is registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles and has a historic vehicle special license plate under G.S. 20-79.
It is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other public interest functions.
It is used only occasionally for other purposes.
It is owned by an individual.
It is used by the owner for a purpose other than the production of income and is not used in connection with a business.

Classification: Antique automobiles are designated a special class of property under Article V, Sec. 2(2) of the North Carolina Constitution and must be assessed for taxation in accordance with this section. An antique automobile must be assessed at the lower of its true value or five hundred dollars ($500). To apply please view the Application for Antique Automobile Classification.

North Carolina General Statute 105-277.12. Antique Airplanes

Definition: For the purpose of this section, the term "antique airplane" means an airplane that meets all of the following conditions:

It is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration and is a model year 1954 or older.
It is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, air shows, and other public interests functions.
It is used occasionally for other purposes.
It is used by the owner for a purpose other than the production of income.

Classification: Antique airplanes are designated a special class of property under Article V, Sec. 2(2) of the North Carolina Constitution and shall be assessed for taxation in accordance with this section. An antique airplane shall be assessed at the lower of its true value or five thousand dollars ($5,000). To apply view the Annual Antique Airplane Application form on our Forms Page

Nonprofit Business Information

Nonprofit businesses are required to fill out a property tax exemption form along with a business listing form. Those forms can be accessed on the NC Department of Revenue website.

North Carolina General Statutes for Exemptions: 105-278.1-8

Tax Relief & Deferment

View the Tax Relief and Deferment page for more information about tax relief and deferment.

Appealing Personal Property Value

View the Personal Property Appeal page to appeal your personal property’s tax value.

Search Tax Record Assessment

Search for tax records on the Property Assessment website.

Search Tax Bills

Visit New Hanover County’s Citizen Self Serve website to search for tax bills.