September 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
It’s tax time in DeKalb County!
2023 property tax notices will be going out in the mail Friday, September 29 bearing the color of forest green, which has a special meaning to Trustee Sean Driver.
Property taxes will be due and payable starting October 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2024. Interest will accrue on March 1, 2024 @ 1.5% per month. If you choose to mail in your tax payment, it must be postmarked on or prior to February 29, 2024 to avoid any accrued interest.
For 2023, the tax rate is 2.00% per $100.00 of your assessed value. The tax notices include an example provided by Trustee Sean Driver on how the property taxes are calculated.
Example: Appraisal Value————$175,000 X (multiply) Assessed Value @25%—-$43,750 X Residential Tax Rate @ 2.00%——$875 Tax Amount to Pay.
“The is hope in nature. A warm welcome and happy day goes out to all the fine folks of DeKalb County from your Trustee, Sean Driver. Once again, I am going to give the yearly changes on the property taxes. The 2023 property taxes will be mailed out on September 29, 2023 for annual collection. For the 2023 Tax Year, you will see the color ‘Forest Green’ on the property tax notices. I chose ‘Forest Green’ this year because what the color represents to me personally. If we can sometimes go to a place where we can view the beautiful scenery of this wonderful earth, we should realize there is HOPE. Whether, its from a mountaintop, a valley, a stream of water, a cluster of trees, a bed of flowers, or the end of day sunset, we can see the freshness of nature. This gives us the hope, harmony, and growth to serve and live for something that was established for us all and so pure many years ago,” said Driver.
The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes:
1. Come in person to the office to pay
2. Mail in your payment
3. Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens – The Vendor BIS/I3 Verticals accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express – The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change using Credit/Debit Cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an E-CHECK payment of any amount. DeKalb County does not collect any online payment fees.
4. A QR (Quick Response Code) is also on your notice to access the website with your I-phone, smartphone, etc. @ www.tennesseetrustee.org
5 A Dropbox is located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours and/or weekends.
6. Partial Payments are accepted, and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is satisfied.
Eligibility for Property Tax Relief:
The State of Tennessee offers qualified property owners Tax Relief on property taxes. This program was implemented in 1973 and the program has a few changes every year. At this time, DeKalb County has 403 applicants on the program for 2023. So, as a property owner for 2023, you can qualify for Tax Relief if:
(A) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence,
(B) You are 65 years old (or older) on or before December 31, 2023, or
(C) You are under 65 years of age with a totally and permanently disability per SSA or another qualifying agency, and last
(D) Your 2022 Annual Income of all living owners on the deed and their spouses that DID NOT exceed $33,460.00.
If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $104.00 for the 2023 tax year. You must pay your 2023 tax bill in full to start the application process. Applications are handled, executed, and sent to the State of Tennessee by the Trustee’s office.
The State of Tennessee also offers Tax Relief to Disabled Veterans and the Surviving Spouses of a Disabled Veteran. You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a total and permanent disability rating that was service connected. You and your spouse do NOT have to report any amount of income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow/er of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $589.00 for 2023.
Meanwhile, DeKalb County has implemented a “Tax Freeze” program authorized by the state and Trustee Driver explains the qualifications for that.
NEW 2023 PROGRAM: ‘TAX FREEZE’
• Established through voters in the State of Tennessee through a referendum passage in 2007
•The Program is only for ELDERLY – 65 years or older
•Income Limit (2022 Annual Income) is $33,460.00. All owners on the property
•Can only have Tax Freeze on your primary/principal residence
•The TAX AMOUNT is Frozen. The property value, assessment, and tax rate are Not Frozen.
•You can apply or have both Tax Relief and Tax Freeze.
•Applications are administered and executed by the Trustee’s office.
•There are acreage limits that can be frozen.
The Trustee’s office will start accepting applications for the Tax Relief & Tax Freeze Programs on October 2, 2023 and will continue through April 5, 2024. If you would like to inquire more about a possible Tax Relief for property taxes or about the New Tax Freeze Program, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office @ 732 S. Congress Blvd – Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call @ 615-597-5176.