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 a prorated refund for Motor Vehicle property taxes if you have surrendered your license plate to the NC DMV. A prorated refund covers the unused portion of the tax year remaining after your plate surrender date. To qualify, you must obtain an FS20 form from the NC DMV at the time of surrender — this is the official receipt confirming your plate was turned in and is required to process your refund. 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. Have the following documents ready and scanned in an electronic format (such as a PDF):

   • FS20 form — issued by the NC DMV when you surrender your plate; confirms the surrender date used to calculate your prorated refund
   • Proof of change of ownership, if applicable (e.g., bill of sale, total loss letter)
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. Wake County Tax Administration will calculate your prorated refund based on the number of full months remaining in the tax year after your plate surrender date. You will receive an estimated refund amount in the response before the check is issued.
5. 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.