Payment Assistance

Orange County offers several ways to help you pay your real and personal property taxes over time. These options can make it easier to manage your tax bill before it becomes past due.

Note: These programs do not apply to registered motor vehicle bills (license plate taxes). Vehicle property taxes are paid through the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV).

Programs to Help You Pay

The following options are available to help with real and personal property tax payments:

• Pre-payment Program
• Bank Draft Program
• Post-Billing Payment Plan

These programs do not reduce your tax bill. Instead, they give you more flexible ways to pay what you owe before the bill becomes delinquent.

Pre-payment Program

The Pre-payment Program lets you pay toward an estimated tax bill before the official bill is created and mailed.

How it works:

• We give you an estimate of your upcoming property tax bill.
• You choose when and how much to pay toward that estimate.
• You can make multiple payments during the year, before the bill is due.
• All prior year taxes must be paid in full before you can use this program.

Important: Pre-payments are non-refundable. Money you pay in advance will be applied to your tax bill when it is created and cannot be returned to you.

You must tell the Tax Office each year if you want to participate in the Pre-payment Program for that year.

Bank Draft Program

The Bank Draft Program allows you to have monthly payments drafted automatically from your bank account. This helps you pay your bill in full before it becomes delinquent.

How it works:

• Your yearly tax bill is divided into monthly payments.
• Payments are drafted from your bank account on a set day each month.
• The total amount owed is paid off before the delinquent date (after January 5).

To enroll:

• You must apply in person at the Tax Office in Hillsborough the first time.
• You must submit a new application each year to stay in the program.
• You will need your bank routing and account numbers and a voided check.

You can print the application form before you visit:

 Bank Draft Program Application (PDF)  

Post-Billing Payment Plan

The Post-Billing Payment Plan is for taxpayers who need help after the current year tax bills have been mailed.

How it works:

• After you receive your bill, the Tax Office works with you to set up a payment plan.
• You make regular payments (for example, monthly) toward the total amount due.
• The plan is designed so the bill is paid in full before the delinquent date (after January 5).

A Post-Billing Payment Plan does not stop interest or collection actions on past-due bills from previous years. It is meant to help you pay current year taxes on time.

To ask about a payment plan, please contact the Tax Office as soon as possible after you receive your bill.

Which Program Is Right for Me?

• “I want to start paying toward my bill before it is even created.”
  The Pre-payment Program may work best for you.
• “I want automatic monthly drafts from my bank account.”
  The Bank Draft Program may be a good fit.
• “I already received my bill and need more time to pay it.”
  Ask about a Post-Billing Payment Plan.

If you are having trouble paying your tax bill because of age, disability, income, or hardship, you may also want to review our  Property Tax Relief & Assistance Programs . These programs can sometimes reduce the amount of tax you owe.

Contact Us About Payment Assistance

If you have questions about any of these payment assistance options or want to see if you qualify, please contact us.

Phone: 919-245-2100 (Option 2)
Email: tax@orangecountync.gov

If you need an interpreter or a disability-related accommodation, please tell us when you call or visit. We want to make all of our services accessible to everyone.