Find the Right Forrest County Tax Record Before You Pay
Use this guide to search a Forrest County property, pay a current tax bill, renew a vehicle tag, check Hattiesburg office hours or decide whether your question belongs to Tax Collector Zac Howell or Tax Assessor Mary Ann Palmer.
The most important step is choosing the correct record and office. Property-tax payments, appraisals, map ownership, homestead, prior-year taxes and vehicle registration do not all use the same desk.
Zac Howell
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Property Tax Penalty & Interest Calculator
State-specific penalty rates • Interest accrual • Tax lien deadline • Cost-of-waiting breakdown
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Tax Lien Warning
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601 N. Main St., Hattiesburg
Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
What are you trying to do?
Use the county tax search/payment system and match owner, parcel or PPIN, property type and tax year.
Use Tax Assessor appraisal records or TSC Maps; do not ask the payment desk to change assessed value.
Use online tag renewal while eligible; late or problem registrations may require the Tax Collector office.
How to search Forrest County property records without opening the wrong record
The county-linked Delta system separates tax records from appraisal records. Start with the search type that matches your question.
| Search | Fields available | Best use | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Property Taxes | Owner name, address, parcel, Section/Township/Range, PPIN | Tax bill lookup and property-tax record | Match the correct tax year and parcel. |
| Real Property Appraisal | Name, address, parcel number, PPIN | Assessed value and appraisal information | An appraisal record is not a payoff balance. |
| Personal Property | DBA, address, parcel, land-roll parcel, PPIN and year | Business personal-property account | Search the correct business name/year. |
| Mobile Home | Name, address, parcel, land-roll PPIN, court code, serial number, title or account | Manufactured-home tax record | Serial/title data may be more reliable than an owner-name guess. |
| TSC Maps | Map-based parcel/property tools | Ownership, values, aerial views, legal description and boundaries | New deed ownership may take time to appear. |
Pay Forrest County taxes online step by step
Forrest County Tax Collector office, hours and phone number
Zac Howell
Tax Services Building601 N. Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: 601-582-8228
P.O. Box 1689
Hattiesburg, MS 39403
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.
When Forrest County property taxes are due
Forrest County tag renewal online and late-renewal rules
Mississippi DOR lists Forrest County among counties offering online vehicle-registration renewal through the county’s own website. The Forrest County Delta system also lists Online Car Tag Payments.
| Timing | State guidance | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Through the 15th of following month | Forrest County says penalties have not started before this cutoff. | Renew immediately; online eligibility may still be available. |
| 16th day onward | Mississippi DOR says late penalty starts at 5%. | Expect a late amount and verify the live total. |
| Each additional 30 days | DOR says another 5% is added. | Do not estimate; call or use the official current total. |
| Maximum | State FAQ lists a maximum 25% penalty. | Resolve promptly; maximum-penalty accounts also lose Legislative Tag Credit eligibility. |
Vehicle registration after a purchase or move to Mississippi
Current Mississippi DOR guidance gives 30 business days to complete registration. If the vehicle was bought outside your home county, the state says you have 48 hours to transport it home or to your business and still must complete registration within the 30-business-day period.
The Forrest County Tax Collector says a Mississippi registration must be obtained within 30 days after moving into the state.
Forrest County Tax Collector vs Tax Assessor
| Your question | Office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| How much property tax do I owe? | Tax Collector | 601-582-8228 |
| How do I pay or did my payment post? | Tax Collector | 601-582-8228 |
| How much will my tag cost? | Tax Collector | 601-582-8228 |
| Is the assessed value correct? | Tax Assessor | 601-545-6130 |
| Who is listed as owner? | Tax Assessor / Maps | 601-545-6130 |
| Do I qualify for homestead? | Tax Assessor | 601-545-6130 |
| Business personal-property value? | Tax Assessor | 601-545-6130 |
| Prior-year land tax after handoff? | Chancery Land Records | 601-545-6046 / 6047 |
Mary Ann Palmer
601 N. Main St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401The county says the Assessor is responsible for fair and uniform values for about 50,000 real and personal-property parcels and maintains ownership maps.
Forrest County homestead filing window and documents
The Tax Assessor lists the homestead filing period as January 2 through April 1. The home must be owned and occupied as the applicant’s residence as of January 1, and rental property does not qualify.
For an applicant under 65 who is not disabled, the county lists a maximum $300 credit against property taxes on the homestead.
For qualifying age 65+ or 100% disabled applicants, the county lists exemption from property taxes on the first $7,500 of assessed value.
The county lists total ad valorem tax exemption for a qualifying 100% service-connected disabled veteran, extending to an un-remarried spouse under the stated rules.
First-time filing checklist
Business personal-property rendition deadlines
Forrest County assesses business tangible assets such as furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment and inventory. The county says personal property is assessed at 15% of true value.
Mobile-home registration and tax rules
The current Tax Collector page says a mobile home must be registered within seven days of purchase and taxes are due within 90 days.
The current collector page says mobile/manufactured-home taxes are due February 1 in later years.
When the Tax Collector is no longer the only office you need
The Tax Collector handles current collection and the annual tax-sale process. The Chancery Clerk maintains records of property sold for taxes and processes redemption payments after the relevant transfer.
Ask which office currently controls the account, the exact amount due, whether a sale/redemption status applies and which payment method is accepted.
Forrest County or Lamar County? Check before paying a Hattiesburg bill
The City of Hattiesburg explicitly says city property taxes are collected by the county Tax Collector for the county where the property is located. A Hattiesburg mailing address alone does not prove the property is in Forrest County.
Before you pay, renew or visit
Official links to use when you are ready to act
Forrest County Tax Collector FAQs
What is the Forrest County Tax Collector phone number?
The phone number is 601-582-8228. The Tax Collector office is at 601 N. Main Street in Hattiesburg.
What are the Forrest County Tax Collector office hours?
The office publishes Monday through Friday hours of 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.
How do I search Forrest County property records?
Use the Forrest County Delta Computer Systems search for tax and appraisal records. Real-property searches support owner name, property address, parcel number, Section/Township/Range and PPIN. The Assessor also links TSC Maps for ownership, values, aerial views, legal descriptions and boundaries.
Can I pay Forrest County property taxes online?
Yes. The Tax Collector links an online payment portal, and the county Delta system provides online real-property, personal-property and mobile-home tax payment routes. Verify the owner, parcel or PPIN, tax year and amount first.
When are Forrest County property taxes due?
The Tax Collector states that property taxes are due by February 1 to avoid a penalty. The office says delinquent property taxes can proceed toward tax sale after the last Friday in August.
How do I renew a Forrest County car tag online?
Mississippi DOR lists Forrest County as offering online tag renewal through its own website, and the county Delta system lists Online Car Tag Payments. The county says online renewal is no longer available after the 15th day of the month following expiration, so a later renewal may require calling or visiting.
What is the late penalty for an expired Mississippi vehicle registration?
Mississippi DOR says the penalty begins on the 16th day of the month following expiration at 5%, with another 5% for each additional 30 days overdue, up to 25%.
What is the Forrest County Tax Assessor phone number?
The Tax Assessor phone number is 601-545-6130. Use the Assessor for values, ownership, maps, parcel records, business personal-property assessments and homestead.
When can I apply for homestead exemption in Forrest County?
The Tax Assessor lists January 2 through April 1 as the filing period. The home must be owned and occupied as the applicant’s residence as of January 1, and additional documents apply to age, disability and veteran exemptions.
Who handles prior-year or tax-sale property taxes in Forrest County?
Current collection starts with the Tax Collector. The Chancery Clerk handles land records and prior-year delinquent taxes after the relevant handoff, including records of tax-sold property and redemption payments. Land Records/Prior Year Taxes numbers are 601-545-6046 and 601-545-6047.