Pay, Search or Fix a Forsyth County Tax Bill
Use this guide to pay a Forsyth County, NC tax bill, confirm the Collector mailing address and Winston-Salem office, search property records, find assessor information or fix a late, missing or rejected payment.
It also separates payment from appraisal, tax-rate, relief, listing, payment-plan and NCDMV vehicle-tax tasks so you can use the right official route without bouncing through unrelated search results.
P.O. Box 82, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
201 N. Chestnut St., Winston-Salem
Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
$0.5540 per $100 before applicable local/fire rates and fees.
Which Forsyth County tax task are you trying to complete?
Use Tax Bill Online Services or Research Tax Bills for real estate, individual and personal property accounts.
Use Detailed Property Information for owner/business name, location address, REID, PIN and printable property record cards.
Use Assessor/appraisal, listing or property-tax-relief resources—not the payment screen.
How to pay a Forsyth County NC tax bill online
Forsyth County’s Tax Bill Online Services page routes users to the current MSB Payment Processing system and also provides a separate Research Tax Bills tool.
Credit card, debit card, e-check and returned-payment fees
The County explains that North Carolina law does not allow it to absorb electronic payment service costs. Check the final processor screen because payment fees can change.
| Method | Published fee | Before paying |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 2.25% of amount due; $2.00 minimum | Check the displayed dollar fee before authorizing a large payment. |
| Debit card | $2.85 | Confirm the processor identifies the transaction as debit. |
| e-Check | $0.20 for an amount up to $9,999.99 | Verify routing number, full account number and that the bank account accepts e-check transactions. |
| Returned / NSF payment | 10% of the payment or $25, whichever is greater | A failed payment can also become delinquent if a valid replacement is not received on time. |
| Cash/check at office | No electronic convenience fee stated | The County says third-party checks are not accepted. |
Forsyth County Tax Collector mailing address and payment rules
P.O. Box 82
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Make checks payable to Forsyth County Tax Collector’s Office.
- Include a copy of the tax bill or put the tax account number on the check.
- Do not mail cash.
- Mail at least five business days before the past-due date when possible.
- Keep a copy of the check and mailing evidence.
USPS postmark rule
A mailed tax payment is treated as received based on the U.S. Postal Service postmark. If the envelope has no date or the mark is not affixed by USPS, the payment is treated as received when delivered to the Tax Office. Forsyth County says the taxpayer bears the burden of proving timely payment.
Chestnut Street drop box
The County lists a payment drop box on the outside wall of the Government Center facing Chestnut Street near the parking deck entrance. The County FAQ describes it as available anytime, but verify access if you are relying on it near a holiday or deadline.
Forsyth County NC Tax Collector address, phone and hours
Tax Assessor/Collector: Amanda Markle
Forsyth County Government Center201 North Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-703-2300
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
County holidays excluded.
| Office | Mailing address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Collector | P.O. Box 82, Winston-Salem, NC 27102 | 336-703-2300 | 336-748-3000 |
| Tax Assessor | P.O. Box 757, Winston-Salem, NC 27102 | 336-703-2300 | 336-727-2369 |
Forsyth County Tax Collector email: use the correct contact route
The current Tax Administration Contact Us page does not publish one general direct Tax Collector email address. It provides an official message form where you enter your name, email, phone, subject and question.
Use the official Tax Administration contact form or call 336-703-2300. This avoids sending account information to an outdated address.
Individual listing questions: listinghelp@forsyth.cc
Business listing questions/extensions: businesslistinghelp@forsyth.cc
Forsyth County NC tax records and assessor property search
A tax-bill lookup and a property-record lookup answer different questions. Use the payment/bill tool for balances; use the detailed property tool for appraisal, ownership and parcel research.
| Tool | Search by | Best for | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Tax Bills | Bill number, owner name, business name or parcel number | Paid/unpaid real-estate, individual and personal-property bill detail | Tax records change daily; a delinquent payoff changes as interest accrues. |
| Detailed Property Information | Owner/Business Name, Location Address, REID or PIN | Property record card, ownership, assessed values, deeds and sale history | Property data is not the payment processor or a live delinquent payoff. |
| Tax Property Portal | Mapped property information | Map-based real-estate research | Use Tax Bill Services when the task is payment. |
| Tax Parcel Viewer | Parcel/map location | Finding mapped tax parcels and related records | Tax-map dimensions are not a legal boundary survey. |
| Forsyth Sales | Residential/commercial sales | Sales and appraisal context | A comparable sale is not a tax-bill payoff. |
What can you inspect in Detailed Property Information?
Forsyth County NC 2026 property tax rate: why your total can differ
Forsyth County’s 2026 rate table lists the County tax rate at $0.5540 per $100 of assessed value. That is not necessarily the complete rate on a specific property.
$0.5540 per $100 of assessed value.
The published 2026 combined County + Winston-Salem rate is $1.143 per $100 before any applicable special fees or district additions.
City/town, fire-district, municipal-service-district and other applicable rates can change the total.
How to understand the rate without using a risky tax calculator
A basic rate illustration is taxable assessed value ÷ 100 × the applicable combined rate, then any applicable special fees or assessments are considered. The actual County bill controls because exemptions, jurisdictions and special charges can change the result.
| Area / example | Published combined rate per $100 | Why it is different |
|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County base | $0.5540 | County rate only. |
| Winston-Salem | $1.143 | County + municipal rate; an MSD can add more in the applicable area. |
| Kernersville | $1.081 | County + municipal/local components shown in the County table. |
| Many unincorporated fire districts | $0.6491 | County rate plus the listed countywide/fire-district component where applicable. |
Forsyth County Tax Collector vs Tax Assessor
| Your question | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| How much tax do I owe? | Collector / Tax Bill Services | Billing, balances and payment status. |
| Did my payment post? | Collector | Payment processing and collection records. |
| I need a payment agreement or foreclosure payoff. | Collector / Revenue Collector | Delinquent collection, agreements and payoff status. |
| What is the property’s assessed value? | Assessor / Detailed Property Information | Appraisal and assessment records. |
| Who owns it / what is the PIN or REID? | Assessor / property records | Ownership and parcel information. |
| Do I qualify for tax relief? | Assessor / Exemption-Deferment | Program eligibility and applications. |
| I need to list personal or business property. | Assessor / Listing | Listing and valuation are assessment functions. |
| I disagree with real-estate value. | Real Estate Appraisal / BER process | A value appeal is separate from bill payment. |
Forsyth County NC property tax due dates and interest
Forsyth County says real estate and personal property bills are mailed in July, are due September 1 and are payable without interest through January 5. If January 5 falls on a weekend, the payment period extends to the next business day.
| When paid | Published interest rule | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| After January 5 | 2% for January | Use the live bill detail or call for the current amount. |
| Each following month | Additional 0.75% | Do not use a generic daily-interest calculator. |
Payment agreements, future-tax prepayments and duplicate refunds
Forsyth County’s current FAQ provides several routes that are more useful than simply waiting for a delinquent account to move into enforced collection.
The County says Revenue Collectors can establish agreements with predetermined payments over time for residential and business accounts. The goal is to resolve delinquency and help avoid enforced collection.
Call before assuming you qualify. Terms are account-specific.
If the prior-year account is current, the County says taxpayers can begin a prepayment plan in January for future real-estate taxes. Contact Tax Administration to set the plan up correctly.
When two payments create an overpayment, the County says the refund goes to the entity that paid second, using the address on the check. A Finance Department refund check may take approximately 8–12 weeks.
What happens when Forsyth County taxes are delinquent?
Forsyth County says enforcement can begin immediately after taxes become delinquent. The correct action depends on whether the account is simply late, advertised as a lien or already in foreclosure.
| Collection action | What it can affect | What the taxpayer should do |
|---|---|---|
| Wage garnishment | Wages | Call for the current balance and collection status. |
| Bank-account garnishment | Bank funds | Verify the delinquent account before sending a separate payment. |
| Levy on personal property | Taxpayer personal property | Resolve the account promptly with Tax Collections. |
| NC Debt Setoff | State income-tax refund and/or State Lottery winnings | Have any offset notice and account details ready. |
| Real-estate foreclosure | Tax lien / property | Ask Customer Care for the foreclosure liaison and exact payoff. |
Who pays the tax after a Forsyth County property transfer?
Forsyth County explains that real-estate taxes are generally the legal obligation of the owner of record as of January 1. However, if the property changes hands and taxes remain unpaid when they become past due, liability transfers to the owner as of the date the taxes become past due.
Registered vehicle tax, Tag & Tax Together and gap tax bills
Most registered vehicles are taxed through NCDMV Tag & Tax Together when registration is renewed. NCDMV collects the vehicle property tax with registration fees.
Forsyth County can issue a Gap Property Tax Notice for months between an expired registration and later renewal/new registration. The later NCDMV payment does not cover those gap months.
Certain permanent or multi-year tagged vehicles are listed annually as personal property. IRP vehicles are listed as business personal property under County rules.
How Forsyth County describes the gap bill
Bring the original out-of-state registration so the County can review whether the gap bill should be adjusted.
The County directs taxpayers to obtain the appropriate NCDMV Certification of Change of Address when the vehicle situs/address needs review.
Use eNoticesOnline to reduce missed tax and listing notices
Forsyth County links to eNoticesOnline from its Tax Administration tools. The service can reduce dependence on a single paper notice and also supports certain listing tasks.
- Receive eligible tax/listing notices electronically
- Access paperless records tied to registered accounts
- List personal property
- Report applicable real-estate improvements through supported notice workflows
The County FAQ says an authorization code can be found on a recent Reappraisal Notice, listing form or tax bill. Multiple accounts can be linked, and the user can later discontinue electronic notices.
Forsyth County property tax relief: senior, disability, veteran and circuit breaker
The normal 2026 application deadline was June 1, 2026, so it has passed. The official AV-9 instructions also explain that a late current-year application may be considered for good cause under North Carolina law; approval is discretionary, not automatic. Contact the Assessor promptly rather than assuming the benefit is lost or guaranteed.
| Program | 2026 threshold / benefit | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Elderly / Disabled Homestead Exclusion | Income not over $38,800; excludes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of qualifying residence taxable value | Age 65+ or totally/permanently disabled; NC resident; own and occupy the residence. |
| Circuit Breaker Deferment | Income ≤$38,800: tax limited to 4% of income; $38,800–$58,200: limited to 5% | 65+ or totally/permanently disabled; 5-year ownership/occupancy; apply every year. |
| Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion | First $45,000 of qualifying permanent-residence appraised value | Qualifying veteran or qualifying unmarried surviving spouse; supporting certification required. |
Documents to gather before contacting the Assessor
Attn: Exemption Deferment Specialist
P.O. Box 757
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Individual personal-property listing: what the 2026 form required
The official 2026 individual listing form set the filing period at January 1 through February 16, 2026. That period has passed, but the form is still useful for understanding what property was required to be listed and what documentation the County may request.
- Manufactured/mobile homes
- Unregistered vehicles
- Multi-year or permanent-tag vehicles/trailers
- Watercraft
- Certain non-household miscellaneous personal property
- Real-estate improvements or demolitions made since the prior January 1
- Vehicles with active annual NC registration
- Normal household furniture/clothing
- Land simply because you own the real estate
- IRP vehicles—the County directs these to business personal property
Micro-details that prevent a rejected or incomplete filing
Business personal property: listing, cost reporting and extension rules
Forsyth County requires income-producing business personal property to be listed annually. The current web page describes the regular statutory listing period as January, while the official 2026 blank listing form instructed taxpayers to return the 2026 form no later than February 16, 2026.
- Machinery and equipment
- Office furniture and fixtures
- Computer equipment
- Leasehold improvements
- Unregistered, multi-year and IRP vehicular equipment
- Boats, aircraft and manufactured office trailers
- Supplies and expensed items
- Farm equipment and leased equipment
- List fully depreciated assets that are still in the business
- Report historical installed cost—not net book value
- Include applicable freight, installation and sales tax in historical cost
- Report property in the tax district where it is physically located
- If you bought an existing business since the prior January 1, contact the County before completing the return
Business listing extension
Common Forsyth County tax bill and payment problems
Final tax-payment checklist
Official Forsyth County tax resources
The useful rules are explained above. Open these official sources when you need to perform the live action or verify a time-sensitive detail.
Forsyth County NC Tax Collector FAQs
How do I pay a Forsyth County NC tax bill online?
Start from Forsyth County Tax Bill Online Services and follow the County link to the MSB payment portal. Verify the owner/business, account or bill number, property, tax year and amount before paying. Online or phone payments can take two to three business days to reach the Tax Office.
What is the Forsyth County NC Tax Collector mailing address?
Mail tax payments to Forsyth County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 82, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Include a copy of the tax bill or write the account number on the check and do not mail cash. The Assessor uses P.O. Box 757.
What is the Tax Collector office address and hours?
Forsyth County Tax Administration is at 201 North Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Published hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding County holidays. The main phone is 336-703-2300.
What is the Forsyth County NC Tax Collector email address?
The County’s current Contact Us page uses an online contact form rather than one general Tax Collector email. Official listing materials publish listinghelp@forsyth.cc for individual listing questions and businesslistinghelp@forsyth.cc for business listing questions.
How do I search Forsyth County NC property tax records?
Use Research Tax Bills for paid/unpaid bill detail. Use Detailed Property Information for real-estate ownership, values, record cards, REID, PIN, deeds and sales information. The detailed tool supports Owner/Business Name, Location Address, REID and PIN searches.
When are Forsyth County NC property taxes due and when does interest begin?
Annual real-estate and personal-property taxes are due September 1 and may be paid without interest through January 5. For the 2026 cycle, January 5, 2027 is the normal last day before interest. Delinquent real-estate accounts are charged 2% for January and an additional 0.75% each month thereafter.
What is the 2026 Forsyth County NC property tax rate?
The 2026 County rate table lists $0.5540 per $100 of assessed value as the Forsyth County rate. Total rates can be higher because municipal, fire-district, service-district and special-fee components can apply. The published County + Winston-Salem rate is $1.143 per $100 before any applicable additional special fees.
Should I use the Tax Collector or Tax Assessor?
Use the Collector for tax bills, payments, posting, delinquent balances, payment agreements and foreclosure payoff questions. Use the Assessor/property tools for assessed value, ownership, REID, PIN, appraisal, exemptions, personal-property listing and value-appeal questions.
Do I pay registered vehicle property tax to Forsyth County?
Most vehicles with active annual North Carolina registration are taxed through NCDMV Tag & Tax Together. Forsyth County handles gap-tax notices for unregistered periods and annual listing for certain unregistered, permanent-tag, multi-year or IRP vehicles.
What can I do if my Forsyth County tax bill is delinquent or I cannot pay it all at once?
Call 336-703-2300 for the current balance. The County says Revenue Collectors can establish payment agreements with predetermined amounts for qualifying residential or business delinquent accounts. If foreclosure has started, ask for a foreclosure liaison because taxes, interest and fees must be resolved to stop the process.