Property Tax Relief Program

North Carolina offers three property tax relief programs for the permanent residence of qualified homeowners. A permanent residence includes the dwelling, the dwelling site (up to one acre), and related improvements.

• Elderly or Disabled Exclusion
• Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program
• Disabled Veteran Exclusion

Please read the additional information from the document below to determine if you may be able to qualify for one of these tax relief programs.

AV-9 2025 Application for Property Tax Relief

To request an application for tax relief, please call our office at (910) 592-8146. The deadline to submit an application is June 1.

Elderly or Disabled Exclusion - NC General Statute 105-277.1

This program excludes from taxation the first $25,000 or 50% (whichever is greater) of assessed value for the permanent residence. Exclusion means some of the value will not be considered when your tax bill is created. If you do not qualify for the program in future years, the excluded value from prior years does not become taxable.

Once approved for the Elderly or Disabled Exclusion, you do not need to reapply unless your permanent residence has changed, your income now exceeds the current annual income eligibility limit, or you are no longer totally and permanently disabled. If the person receiving the exclusion last year was deceased prior to January 1, the person required by law to list the property must notify the Sampson County Tax Department. The surviving spouse or joint property owner is required to reapply for the exclusion if qualified. Failure to make any of these notices before June 1 will result in penalties, interest, and the possible loss of the exclusion.

Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program - NC General Statute 105-277.1B

Under this program, taxes for each year are limited to a percentage of the owner's income. Taxes above the limitation amount are deferred, which means delayed until a future date. The last three years of deferred taxes become payable with interest if a disqualifying event occurs. Disqualifying events include death of the owner or transfer of the property where the owner's share is not passed to another qualifying owner, and failure to use the property as the owner's permanent residence.

For an owner whose 2023 income does not exceed $36,700, the owner's taxes will be limited to 4% of their income. For an owner whose 2023 income exceeds $36,700 but does not exceed $55,050, the owner's taxes will be limited to 5% of their income. Participation in this program requires all owners to apply and qualify. You must file an application for the Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program each year!

Disabled Veteran Exclusion - NC General Statute 105-277.1C

This program excludes up to the first $45,000 of the appraised value of the permanent residence of an honorably discharged veteran who has a total and permanent disability that is service-connected or who receives benefits for specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101. Unmarried joint property owners must apply separately and benefit limitations may apply based on the percent of ownership. If eligible, each owner may receive benefits under either the Elderly or Disabled Exclusion or the Disabled Veteran Exclusion. Once approved for the Disabled Veteran Exclusion, you do not need to reapply unless your disability or benefit status has changed.

Contact the Sampson County Tax Office for more information about this program.