ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997 TAG: 9704160052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY THE ROANOKE TIMES
More than 58,000 bills for the annual tax on 101,735 boats, motorcycles, cars and trucks have gone to Roanoke households.
If you thought April 15 marked the end of paying taxes this year, think again. For those dreaded personal property taxes, it's just beginning.
More than 58,000 bills assessing the annual tax on 101,735 boats, motorcycles, trailers, cars and trucks were mailed to Roanoke households Tuesday and should arrive in mailboxes this week. Payment will be due June 2, because the traditional deadline, May 31, falls on a Saturday this year.
This year's tax bills levy $20.2 million on vehicles assessed at $581 million, said Commissioner of Revenue Marsha Compton Fielder. That's almost a $2 million increase from last year's levy of $18.3 million. The city each year collects more than 90 percent of the taxes assessed.
A few changes are in store for taxpayers.
For the first time in years, the commissioner's office did not send personal property tax returns, which taxpayers used to have to send back even if they hadn't bought a new car. The returns usually resulted in thousands of late fees assessed on taxpayers who ignored them.
Taxpayers still are liable for late fees if they fail to inform the commissioner's office of a car, truck, motorcycle, boat or trailer purchase within 30 days.
Also new this year are prorated refunds on the $20 decals the city sells to show the tax on a vehicle has been paid. You can get part of that back now if you sell your car before the decal expires.
But to claim the refund, you have to get the pesky sticker off your windshield and turn it in. That's no easy task.
"We have scrapers available," Fielder said.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB