New ‘Tag and Tax Together’ program begins Sunday

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina motorists are going to have to pay their vehicle property tax and registration bill at the same time if they want to get their tags.

The new combined tax and tag law is taking effect Sept. 1

Margaret Howell of the North Carolina Department of Transportation says that, under the current system, motorists renew their registration, and a property tax bill for the vehicle follows a few months later.

But that’s changing. Under the new law, motorists won’t be able to register their vehicles until the taxes are paid.

Howell says counties requested the new law. That’s because some motorists were putting off paying property taxes for their vehicles, and counties wanted the bills paid in a timely manner.

North Carolina has about 8.5 million registered vehicles.

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