Refunds and Replacement Checks

You may be eligible for property tax payment refunds under certain circumstances, such as for value appeals for Real Estate, Individual Personal Property, Business Personal Property, Motor Vehicles, and Gross Receipts. This only applies if you have paid the current tax bill in the year of your appeal. Otherwise, the current tax bills will be rebated to reflect the new values, which are then due immediately. These are usually processed in-house and sent to the current mailing address on file.

You may also request partial refunds for Motor Vehicle property taxes if you have turned in your license plate to the NC DMV and received an FS20. Finally, you may request a replacement check if your current one has expired or was lost in the mail.

How to Request a Refund Check for Motor Vehicle Property Taxes

1. Please have your FS20 and proof of change of ownership (e.g., bill of sale, total loss letter, etc.) scanned in an electronic format, such as a PDF.
2. Submit an online request for a refund by filling out an online request form here - https://wake.gov/vehiclehelp, then under "I Need Help With..." please choose "Requesting a refund for a plate surrender".
3. Tax Administration will verify your eligibility and respond with your estimated refund amount if applicable.
4. After the specified refund processing time period has elapsed (please see below), you may submit a request to check on the status of your refund by filling out the request form here - Submit a request – Wake County Tax Administration, then under "I Need Help With..." please choose "Refunds" - "Checking on the status of my refund".

How to Request a Replacement Refund Check

1. Locate your expired refund check number (e.g., XXXXXXXXXX).
2. Submit a request for a replacement refund check by filling out the request form here - Submit a request – Wake County Tax Administration, then under "I Need Help With..." please choose "Refunds" - "Other". You may also reply to the email for your previous ticket when you originally requested the initial refund check.
3. Provide the expired check number, date, check amount, and current mailing address.

Processing Time and Delivery (after your refund is processed)

1. Motor Vehicle Refunds: Your refund check should arrive by the end of the next month following your refund being processed.
2. Property Tax Refunds: Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery of regular property tax refund checks.
3. For Motor Vehicle replacement checks, please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.