TAXES

All property owners are liable for property taxes, both real estate and personal. These property taxes include school taxes. Property within municipalities is taxed at a higher rate ($1.3406 per $100 of assessed value). Outside the city limits, $1.1366 per $100 of assessed value. Check current rates at the Assessor's office in the courthouse complex.

Personal property includes automobiles, farm equipment, livestock, campers, motorcycles, above ground swimming pools, golf carts, and business equipment. Contact the Assessor's office 258-8570 for additional information on tangible personal property.

Assessments are made as of July 1st of each year and are the basis of your tax bill for the following year. Assessments are at 60% of market value. Taxes are paid on a calendar year, half due by the end of August, the second half due by the end of February.

West Virginia homestead exemption: exemption from the first $20,000 of assessed value of a homestead for those persons at least 65 years old, or certified as being totally and permanently disabled. One must also have lived in West Virginia for two annual consecutive years & apply between July 1-Oct 1 to qualify for the exemption.

Dog tax: $3-county, $6-corporate limits.

Properties are appraised by an elected Assessor, 258-8570 and collected by an elected Sheriff.

Total assessed value of Morgan County real estate, public utilities and personal property fiscal 2005: $536 million; fiscal 2006: $600 million; fiscal 2007: $751 million.

No local income or sales taxes.

West Virginia state income tax is based on your Federal returns. The minimum rate of 3 % applies to income up to $10,000 and the maximum rate 6.5% on income over $60,000, no itemized deductions.Under age 65, there is an exemption for federal and some state pensions of up to $2,000 per taxpayer and a full exemption for those in the state and local police, sheriffs and firefighter's pension system. For those age 65 and better, there is an exemption of up to $8,000 in all income. Social Security benefits subject to federal tax are taxable.
For more detailed information call the state tax department at 1-800-982-8297 or find them online at www.state.wv.us/taxdiv

Tax forms are available at your public library or the West Virginia State Tax Department Eastern Regional Office, 397 Mid-Atlantic Parkway, Suite 2, Martinsburg, WV 25401, phone 267-0022.

West Virginia State sales tax: 6%

Estate tax: None, except for the state's "pickup" portion of the federal tax applicable to estates over $2 million.