ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County property tax bills are going in the mail, but this year’s bills come with some unusual changes because the county’s 2026 reappraisal was put on hold.
Most 2026 property tax bills are already available online, and the first large batch of paper bills was scheduled to be mailed Friday, Aug. 21. Additional bills will be mailed in the coming weeks.
Property owners have until Jan. 5, 2027, to pay without interest.
A small number of properties still require additional review to make sure their values align with 2021 values. Those property owners will receive their online notices and mailed bills after that work is completed.
“We know this is a confusing time with so many changes for our property owners, and our team is here to help,” Property Assessment Assistant Director Joe Turner said in a news release. “We appreciate your patience as our team works through all of the final details.”
Why your 2026 tax bill may look different
State legislation put Buncombe County’s 2026 reappraisal on hold. As a result, the 2021 Schedule of Values is being used to calculate 2026 property tax bills.
The 2026 reappraisal is scheduled to take effect in 2027.
That means the value shown on a 2026 tax bill may be different from the new property value some owners received during the 2026 reappraisal process.
The county’s current tax rate is 61.54 cents per $100 of assessed value.
What happens if you already appealed?
If you already appealed your 2026 reappraisal value, that appeal has not been canceled.
Because of the moratorium, appeals filed on 2026 reappraisal values are currently on hold. County staff will continue to review pending appeals, and the outcome will apply when the reappraisal value takes effect in 2027.
Property owners will receive a notice by mail in early 2027.
There is also a new appeal period for the property values listed on the current 2026 tax bill. That appeal period runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
Questions about appeals can be sent to realestate.questions@buncombenc.gov.
Key dates
- Late August 2026: 2026 tax bills are mailed.
- Sept. 1, 2026: Tax bills are due, but property owners have until Jan. 5, 2027, to pay without interest.
- Dec. 31, 2026: Deadline to appeal the property value used for the current bill.
- Jan. 1-June 30, 2027: Application period for elderly, disabled and veterans tax relief programs.
- Jan. 5, 2027: Last day to pay without interest.
- Jan. 6, 2027: 2026 tax bills become delinquent, and collection actions may begin.
Interest will be added to unpaid balances after Jan. 5. Additional fees also may be charged if collection actions begin.
Payment plans are available
Property owners who cannot pay their bill all at once can contact Buncombe County Tax Collections about payment arrangements.
The county offers two payment plans.
The Casual Payment Plan allows property owners to make a predetermined payment each month rather than having the money automatically withdrawn from a bank account. Payments on 2026 bills must be completed by April 2027.
The Preauthorized Debit Plan automatically withdraws a predetermined amount from a bank account each month. Payments on 2026 bills must be completed by May 2027.
The county also allows property owners to arrange voluntary wage withholding, in which an employer deducts a predetermined amount from each paycheck and sends it to the county.
Property owners must contact Tax Collections to enroll in a payment plan. Call 828-250-4910 for more information.
The county says starting a payment plan sooner can result in smaller monthly payments.
Tax relief is available
Buncombe County offers tax relief programs for qualifying elderly and disabled residents and veterans, as well as certain qualifying agricultural, forestry and conservation properties.
Applications for the elderly, disabled and veterans programs will be accepted from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2027.
Financial help also is available
The county’s General Assistance Program, or GAP, provides short-term help to qualifying Buncombe County households experiencing financial hardship.
The program can help homeowners and renters with essential expenses such as housing and utility bills. Approved payments are made directly to vendors on behalf of applicants.
Applications opened July 1 and will remain open until funding is exhausted. Homeowners who apply between July 1 and Sept. 30 receive priority, but renters and other non-property owners also can qualify while funding remains available.
Residents receiving tax exemptions are eligible to apply.
To qualify, applicants must live in Buncombe County, have household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for the month before applying and have less than $5,000 in countable resources.
Eligible households can receive $500 if their income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level or $350 if their income is between 131% and 200%.
More information is available at buncombenc.gov/gap or by calling Buncombe County Health and Human Services at 828-250-5500.
How to pay
Property owners can view their bill, make payments, access payment history and use other services through the county’s online tax portal at tax.buncombenc.gov.
The county has partnered with PayIt for online payments through the MyBuncombeCounty portal. Residents who have used the myNCDMV portal may be able to use the same login information.
The online system also allows residents to receive payment reminders and make partial payments.
Processing fees apply to credit and debit card payments. There is no processing fee for electronic checks.
Taxes also can be paid by phone at 828-656-5636 using the automated payment system.
Payments by mail should be sent to:
Buncombe County Tax Collections
P.O. Box 3140
Asheville, NC 28802-3140
Property owners should use the payment envelope included with their bill when possible. The county advises residents not to mail cash.
Payments must be received or postmarked by Jan. 5, 2027, to avoid a 2% interest charge.
The county also warns that recent USPS changes mean the date a package is postmarked at a processing facility may not always match the date the mail was collected from a mailbox or dropped off at a retail location.
Property owners also can place checks or money orders, along with the payment coupon, in county drop boxes at:
- Government Services Center, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville
- Tax Department, 182 College St., Asheville. Free parking is available at the garage at 164 College St.
- Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville, September 2026 through January 2027
- Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain, September 2026 through January 2027
For more information about 2026 property taxes, payment options, appeals and tax relief, visit Buncombe County’s tax website.