Pocahontas County Assessor Warns Do Not Pay Entire Personal Vehicle Property Tax Early

Pocahontas County Assessor Johnny Pritt is warning county residents to not pay both halves of their 2023-2024 personal property tax bill on their vehicles early, just to pay the first half of it, which is due before October 1, 2023. He said If they do pay the entire amount early, they will lose the tax credit for the second half of that tax.  Of course, if citizens pay that first half before September 1^st, they will receive a 2 ½% discount on that first half amount.

Pritt says that the West Virginia Legislature passed, and the governor signed legislation that will allow WV residents to receive a Motor Vehicle Property Tax Adjustment Credit based on the amount of their second half payment of the tax, but only if they pay that second half after January 1, 2024 but before it’s due date of April 1, 2024.

He said that there is no provision to provide a tax credit for the first half of the personal property tax this year since the law doesn’t go into effect until 2024. He said the West Virginia Tax Office is interpreting the law, which says the personal property tax must be paid “on time,” to require that the first half of the tax be paid before the October 1, 2023 deadline, while the second half must be paid after January 1, 2024 but before the April 1^st deadline in order to receive the tax credit in the amount of the second half of that tax.

Pritt said that in future years it is probable that the entire personal property tax will be credited to the tax payer unless the legislators again change the law. He said this year is unusual since the legislation only takes effect on January 1, 2024.

Pritt said that many tax payers routinely pay their entire personal vehicle property tax bill before September 1^st, however they should NOT do that this year, because if they do, they will lose their tax credit for the amount of the second half of that tax. Likewise, he said, if they pay their first half on or after October 1^st and/or pay their second half on or after April 1^st, 2024, they will also lose the tax credit for the amount of their second half tax.

He said it is still possible, but unlikely, the tax office will relent and still pay the rebate if just the first half’s payment is late, but no one should take a chance on that happening.

Pritt said that the rebate does not apply to Class C trailers and semi-trailers, or class R travel trailers, as well as some other specialty vehicles. It applies for the most part to privately owned cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, and small trailers.

So, once again, it is suggested citizens pay only the first half of their personal property vehicle taxes either before September 1, 2023 to get the 2 ½% discount, or definitely before the October 1^st official late date for the first half, and that they pay their second half of that tax after January 1, 2024 but before the late date of April 1, 2024 to ensure they receive their tax credit for the second half of that tax. The Tax Office says that if someone qualifies for the rebate, but is not required to file a WV Tax return for 2024, they can claim a rebate for their vehicle. personal property tax second half payment in early 2025.

For more information about this somewhat complicated tax situation, email the WV Tax Office at taxhelp@wv.gov ; go to their website: tax.wv.gov or call them at 1-800-982-8297.