TAXES

2. What does additional unpaid tickets exist or prior tickets exist mean when printed on my bill?

5. I got a real and a personal property tax bill, am I being double billed? It looks like I am paying school, state, county etc… twice.

6. I am a new owner/seller of property, what do I need to know about my taxes

7. I got my real estate tax bill but it is not in my name, it is in the previous owners name

8. I did not get my second half tax bill, when is it due?

9. I got my personal property tax bill but I do not have a car(s) that is listed on my bill

10. I have a high mileage vehicle, how do I get a discount?

11. Do you accept credit cards?

12. When can I apply for the Homestead exemption?

13. Understanding delinquent taxes

1.) When do tax bills go out?

- As a courtesy, tax bills are mailed in the middle of July to the last known owner of real estate or to the last known address that we have on file for the taxpayer. The county tax year runs from July 1^st to June 30^th. You are assessed on what real estate is deeded in your name and what vehicles you have titled in your name on July 1 of the previous year. For example: the 2005 taxes that were mailed in July of 2005 are based on what the taxpayer had deeded or titled in his/her name on July 1^st of 2004.

2.) What does additional unpaid tickets exist or prior tickets exist mean when printed on my bill?

- If Additional Unpaid Tickets Exist or Prior Tickets Exist is printed on a tax bill it usually means that the previous years taxes are unpaid. It will print on all tax bills if taxes are not paid by May 1^st. For example: If you pay your 2004 taxes on May 3^rd of 2005, the 2005 tax bills you will receive in July will have one of the two statements printed on the bill.

- It can also be printed on your bill as a flag for the tax deputy to take a closer look at the bill to ascertain if there is a back tax or if the piece of real estate is split into two tax classes.

3.) Who do I make my check payable to?

- Please make checks payable to: The Sheriff of Brooke County

- Mailing address is: 632 Main Street Wellsburg, WV 26070 Attn: Tax Office

4.) Do I get a discount on my taxes?

- Yes, if the first half of your taxes is paid anytime up to and including September 1^st of the current tax year, you will receive a 2.5% discount.

- After September 1^stand up to and including September 30^th, the first half will be the base amount of taxes per year which can be found in the upper right hand corner of the tax bill

- After October 1^st, interest of .75% will be added to your total on the first of every month at a rate of 9% for the entire year if the taxes go unpaid.

5.) I got a real and a personal property tax bill, am I being double billed? It looks like I am paying school, state, county etc… twice.

- Each bill provides a detailed breakdown of what and where the base amount of your tax dollars are going. The total of the breakdown amounts to the school, state, county etc… is the full year of your taxes calculated as the base amount (upper right hand corner of the tax bill) times two.

6.) I am a new owner/seller of property what do I need to know about my taxes? &

7.) I got my real estate tax bill but it is not in my name it is in the previous owners name?

- As a new owner or seller of real estate, it is very important that the details of the taxes are outlined clearly during your closing. If you have an attorney or a realtor working with you on the sale or purchase, responsibility should be assigned at that time. The tax office is unable to tell you who owes them. We try to notify the current owner as it would be in their best interest that the taxes are paid to prevent the sale of the real estate.

- As a new owner, it is probable that the following years taxes will still be printed and mailed to the previous owner. The tax bill will not be changed until a deed has been filed and a copy is received in the assessor’s office.

8.) I did not get my second half tax bill, when is it due?

- We do not send out second half notices of taxes due. The tax bill you receive one time in July has both payments outlined on it.

- The bottom portion of your tax bill outlines the first half or full year payment amount that is due in the month you choose to pay it. If you only pay your first half, the middle section outlines your second half payment with the starting due date of March 1^st.

- Taxes are considered delinquent April 1^st and if any taxes are still owed as of May 1^st, then by law the tax amount and your name will be published with fees added.

9.) I got my personal property tax bill but I do not have a car(s) that is listed on my bill

- The taxes are assessed on what vehicles you owned on July 1^st of the previous year. For example: If you titled a vehicle on June 30^th of 2004, you will pay taxes on that vehicle for the 2005 tax year. If you titled a vehicle on July 2^nd 2004, you will pay taxes on that vehicle starting with the 2006 tax year.

10.) I have a high mileage vehicle how do I get a discount?

- It depends on the year of the vehicle and how many miles you have on the car.

- Beginning July 1^st and ending October 1^st is the sign-up period for a high mileage vehicle. Someone from the assessor’s office will take a look at the mileage and the discount is then applied to the following years tax bill.

11.) Do you accept credit cards?

- At this time we do not accept credit cards.

- We accept Cash/Checks/Money Orders

12.) When can I apply for the Homestead exemption?

- You can apply for the Homestead exemption on the first July 1^st following your 64^th birthday.

- For example if your turn 64 in March of 2006, you can apply on July 1^st, 2006. However if you turn 64 on July 2^nd 2006, you must wait until you are 65 to apply.

- If you are on total disability, you may apply for the Homestead by bringing in your award letter to the assessors office and sign-up.

- The Homestead exemption is not a full exemption, you are exempted the first $20,000 of the assessed value on the property in which you live in.

13.) Understanding delinquent taxes:

- Taxes become delinquent April 1^st and are published with fees added on May 1^st

- If real estate taxes go unpaid, certified letters are mailed to the last known owner or new owner of the real estate in an effort to make the person living on the property aware that their real estate will be sold if the taxes remain unpaid.

- Taxes that go unpaid on any real estate will be put up for sale on the courthouse steps on November 15^th at 10:00am. The property can either be sold to an individual or sold to the state for payment of the delinquent taxes as well as the current taxes.

- The real estate owner then has 18 months to redeem their property either from the individual who bought it (See County Clerk’s office) or from the state of West Virginia (Russell Rollyson: 1-304-558-2262).

Timeline of 2005 Taxes:

July 2005 September 2005 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 September 2006 November 2006

2005 tax bill 1^st half of taxes due 2^nd half of taxes due Unpaid taxes are Delinquent list Certified letters are Real estate sold

mailed. Based considered published for mailed for all for non-payment

on what taxpayer delinquent unpaid real estate & delinquent real of 2005 taxes.

owned on 7/1/04 personal property taxes estate taxes

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DMV

General Information: The First Letter or Number Corresponds to the Month Your Plate Expires

Example: If your license plate starts with a 1, your plate expires on Jan 1^st at midnight

If your license plate starts with a D, your plate expires on December 1^st at midnight

Your plate expires on the first of the month.

Your inspection sticker expires on the last day of the month

We do not renew Campers, Boats, Trailers, or Nascar plates. Please go to your nearest DMV office to renew.

1. Can I have title work done, buy new plates, or transfer plates at the courthouse?

2. What type of licenses do you renew and how much are they?

3. Who do I make my check payable to?

4. What are the numbers and locations of the closest DMV offices?

5. I did not receive my renewal form from Charleston in the mail, what do I do?

6. I received my renewal form from Charleston in the mail but it is not on my correct vehicle what do I do?

7. My name has changed and is incorrect on my registration card, how do I get it changed?

8. My address has changed and is incorrect on my registration card, how do I get it changed? Also, I live in Brooke County and my renewal form says Ohio or Hancock County.

9. What tax receipt do I need to renew my license?

10. My car has been in the shop for repairs for a while and my plate has expired, what can I do to get it renewed and do I have to pay taxes on it?

11. I am new to Brooke County, what do I need to do to as far as taxes and registering my cars go?

12. Examples of when taxes are due on vehicles titled in your name

Print a DMV-32-TR to send to Charleston so you can:

· Change your address

· Apply for a duplicate registration card

· Apply for a duplicate decal

· Or a duplicate plate.

1.) Can I have title work done, buy new plates, or transfer plates at the courthouse?

-We do not do any title work or transferring of plates at the courthouse, we also do not give new plates or temporary plates. Several places can do these things for you such as the AAA or either of the DMV offices one located in Moundsville, WV and one opening on Friday October 21, 2005 in Weirton by the police station.

Back to DMV top

2.) What type of licenses do you renew and how much are they?

- We renew the following classes of vehicles:

A: Cars, Vans, Buses, Motor Homes & Trucks less than 8,000 lbs.

A2: Two Years

AF: Fire Fighters & Emergency Services

AG: National Guard

AH: Handicap

AI: Legislative

AM: Marines, Disabled American Veterans, Bronze Star, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, War on Terrorism, Retired Military

AND: Deer Plate

ANR: Wildlife Monthly

AO: Organizations – Colleges, Professional Firefighters, Educators

APA: Patriotic

AR: Amateur Radio

AS: Governor’s Numbers

AV: Vanity

AVF: Volunteer Firefighter

AVS: Vanity Scenic

AW: Veterans

*All prices are subject to change per the Division of Motor Vehicles

Purple: $31.00 for a one year decal

Orange: $46.00 Specialized plates can be renewed at the tax office for only one year.

A2: $62.00 for a two year decal

Back to DMV Top

3.) Who do I make my check payable to?

- If you renew your license at the tax office, the check is made out to the Sheriff of Brooke County

The county charges an additional dollar for the convenience of being able to renew locally.

- If you renew your license by mail, the check is made out to the WV Division of Motor Vehicles.

The amount of your check will equal the price printed on your renewal form.

Back to DMV Top

4.) What are the numbers and locations of the closest DMV offices

- Moundsville DMV Office: 1-304-843-6389

Directions: Go through Wheeling to get on Route 2 South (get in left lane through Wheeling… At Straub-Honda, turn left onto 16^th Street – Then get into right lane- Look for Route 2 South signs)

Go Though Glen Dale (DO NOT SPEED- 35 MPH)

Arrive in Moundsville. The Anwar Cataract Center will be on your left and 84 Lumber is on your right. Get into the left lane and turn onto Teletec Drive. The DMV office is at the end of Teletec Drive.

- Weirton DMV Office: Scheduled to open Friday October 21^st 2005. Subject to change

No phone number as of yet

Located in the new office building by the Weirton Police Department

- Charleston DMV: 1-800-642-9066

Back to DMV Top

5.) I did not receive my renewal form from Charleston in the mail, what do I do?

- Charleston will send your renewal form a month before your plate expires. If you have moved recently, DMV will only forward one time, otherwise your renewal form is returned to Charleston. If you have not received your renewal form by the second week in the month before you expire bring your current registration card and proof of insurance to the tax office and we will be able to renew your plate and print you a temporary registration card.

- A Temporary Registration card is good for only 60 days after we issue it, if you do not receive your new registration card in the mail within that time frame, contact the Charleston DMV.

Back to DMV Top

6.) I received my renewal form from Charleston in the mail but it is not on my correct vehicle what do I do?

- Charleston DMV prints renewal forms three months in advance, so if you transfer a plate from one vehicle to another a few months before you expire, chances are DMV will send you a renewal form on your old vehicle.

- In order to renew on the proper vehicle, bring in your current registration card and proof of insurance to the tax office and we will be able to renew your plate and print you a temporary registration card.

- A Temporary Registration card is good for only 60 days after we issue it, if you do not receive your new registration card in the mail within that time frame, contact the Charleston DMV.

Back to DMV Top

7.) My name has changed and is incorrect on my registration card, how do I get it changed?

- If your name is misspelled on your registration card, the first step is to check your title to ensure that the proper spelling is on the title. If it is a clerical error on Charleston’s part, contact them to see if it can be rectified over the phone. If they require any form of proof, they will let you know and give you a fax number or address to send it to.

- If you have gotten married or divorced, your title to the vehicle must be changed first and then Charleston will require a copy of the marriage license or divorce papers faxed or sent to them.

Back to DMV Top

8.) My address has changed and is incorrect on my registration card, how do I get it changed? Also I live in Brooke County and my renewal form says Ohio or Hancock County.

- If it is time for you to renew your plate, we can change the address on your renewal form when you come to get your decal. DMV will not send you a new registration card however, when it comes time to renew your plate the following year, the address change will be reflected on your renewal form.

- If it is not time for you to renew your plate, you can print a DMV-32-TR and send a $5.00 fee to Charleston and they will mail you a new registration card.

- If you are a resident of Brooke County and you have a Weirton address, DMV automatically puts Hancock County on your renewal form. If you are a resident of Brooke County and you have a Wheeling address, DMV automatically puts Ohio County on your renewal form. It is a minor thing and will not affect your taxes in anyway.

Back to DMV Top

9.) What tax receipt do I need to renew my license?

- From May 1^st 2005-April 30^th 2006 you will need to provide a copy of your 2004 tax receipt to either the tax office or the DMV office. Your 2004 taxes are based on what you have titled in your name on July 1, 2003.

- From May 1^st 2006-April 30^th 2007 you will need to provide a copy of your 2005 tax receipt to either the tax office or the DMV office. Your 2005 taxes are based on what you have titled in your name on July 1, 2004.

- If you are coming to the tax office to renew your plate, we can look up your taxes on our computers.

- If you are going to a DMV office to renew your plate, you must take a copy of the proper receipt showing the vehicle you are going to renew. If you have recently titled the vehicle, still bring the proper receipt showing you have paid taxes.

- Example: If you are renewing a boat license which is a multi year plate. You would go to the DMV office closest to you and bring your 2004 & 2003 tax receipts with you.

Back to DMV Top

10.) My car has been in the shop for repairs for a while and my plate has expired, what can I do to get it renewed and do I have to pay taxes on it?

- If you have your renewal form or the most recently expired registration card and it has been only three months that your plate has been expired, we can renew your plate at the tax office.

- If your plate has been expired for longer than three months, take your information and a tax receipt to your local DMV office.

- Any vehicle, boat, trailer, etc… that is titled in your name must have taxes paid on it whether you renew the plate or not. If it is a junked car, write the word ‘junk’ on your title and send it to Charleston, DMV and then contact the assessor’s office at 737-3667 to let them update the personal property that they have on file for you.

Back to DMV Top

11.) I am new to Brooke County, what do I need to do to as far as taxes and registering my cars go?

- If you are moving from one county in West Virginia to Brooke or even vice versa, you must let the assessor’s office in both counties know that you are leaving, or that you are new to that new county.

- The assessor’s office will let you know when you will pay your last taxes to the old county and also when taxes will be due to the county you have moved to.

- You will need to apply for WV plates only if you are moving from out of state. You will pay 6% tax on every vehicle you register and license in the state of West Virginia.

Back to DMV Top

12.) Examples of when taxes are due on vehicles titled in your name:

- Any vehicles titled in your name on JULY 1^st of the previous year, you must pay the full year taxes on it, even if you only had it titled in your name for a few months.

1. If you purchased a vehicle and titled it on June 15^th, 2004. You will pay 2005 taxes on that vehicle when the 2005 tax bills are mailed in July of 2005.

2. If you purchased a vehicle and titled it on July 2^nd, 2004. You will pay 2006 taxes on that vehicle when the 2006 tax bills are mailed in July of 2006.

- It is important to always let the assessor’s office know of any changes with your vehicles, if you have purchased a new vehicle, or sold another, etc… They will need the VIN number for any of your new vehicles so as to assess a value for tax purposes.

Back to DMV Top

If you have any unanswered questions please call (304) 737-3663 or stop in to the tax office between

9:00 am - 4:30pm M-F & 9:00 - 12:00 on Saturday

BACK TO MAIN PAGE

Brooke County Sheriff's Department 632 Main Street Wellsburg, WV 26070

Sheriff Richard D Ferguson

Created by: T Jarrell

brookecounty@yahoo.com