Your Taxes

Real Property

Property Tax inquiry and convenient online payments are now available for property taxes.

• This office maintains all tax accounts for real property including billing, processing additions, abatements, transfers, address changes, tax liens, and conducting the tax sale each year.

• Full year real property bills are mailed July 1 of each year. If you do not receive one, please contact our office immediately. New construction tax bills (for additional taxes after improvements are made to a property) are generally mailed in October (3/4 year), January (1/2 year), and April (1/4 year) of each year.

• Owners of properties designated as "principal residence" are now eligible to pay real property taxes in two semiannual installments. The first installment is due by September 30 of each tax year, and the second installment (including applicable service charge) is due December 1 of each tax year.

• If your property taxes are put in escrow by your mortgage company, please forward all bills to them. Also, check your escrow analysis statement to verify your taxes have been paid by your mortgage company.

• If you own property in Charles County, please notify our office of any address changes. Include your property number if available.

• A property tax credit program is available to residential homeowners who meet certain requirements. There are also exemptions available to disabled veterans who meet certain requirements. For further information contact the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (301-932-2440).

• The State Department of Assessments and Taxation determines the taxable assessment of your real property. It is important to verify any assessment notices received from the SDAT for accuracy. Assessments may be appealed. For more information please call 301-932-2440.

• Tax rates are set each fiscal year. The rates are based on $100 of assessed value (taxable assessment). Taxes are calculated by dividing the taxable assessment by $100 and then multiplying by the tax rate.

• Properties with delinquent real estate taxes may be sold at Tax Sale each year. Please pay your taxes in a timely manner to avoid this situation.
  

Personal Property

Property Tax inquiry and convenient online payment are now available for property taxes.

• This office maintains all tax accounts for personal property including billing, processing additions, abatements, address changes, and tax liens.

• Personal property tax bills are mailed throughout the taxable year (July - June), depending on when the personal property tax returns were filed by a business. For any taxable year, the taxes billed are based on personal property located in Maryland as of January 1 of that same year.

• Personal property tax is an annual tax on business-owned personal property. Personal property generally includes furniture, fixtures, office and industrial equipment, machinery, tools, supplies, inventory, and any other property not classified as real property. Most businesses must file a personal property tax return with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) each year. If you are unsure whether you are required to file, please contact the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

• The SDAT determines the taxable assessment (assessed value) of your personal property based on the original cost less an annual depreciation allowance. It is important to verify any assessment notices received from the SDAT for accuracy. Assessments may be appealed.

• Tax rates are set each fiscal year. The rates are based on $100 of assessed value (taxable assessment). Taxes are calculated by dividing the taxable assessment by $100 and then multiplying by the tax rate.

• For questions regarding the personal property tax return, your assessment, business closings, and other related issues, please contact the State Department of Assessments and Taxation in Baltimore at 410-767-1170 (for corporations, LLC's, LLP's and limited partnerships) or 410-767-4991 (for sole proprietors and general partnerships).