Surry County Property Tax Deadlines: A Timeline for Families Managing Affairs
When you're handling a loved one's affairs during incarceration, property tax deadlines can catch you off guard. Here's Surry County's timeline—put these dates on your calendar to avoid missing discounts or falling into delinquency.
At a Glance
- ✓ Late July–early August - Surry County tax bills are mailed.
- ✓ Before September 1 - payments received may qualify for a discount.
- ✓ September 1 - real estate, individual personal property, and business personal property taxes are due for the current tax year.
- ✓ After January 5 (following year) - taxes become delinquent and can be subject to enforced collections efforts.
Tax bills go out between late July and early August. If you're managing mail for someone who's incarcerated, watch for that window. Don't let the bill sit unopened or get lost in a pile - this is your signal to start lining up payment.
Real estate, individual personal property, and business personal property taxes are all due September 1. When you're already juggling court dates, commissary deposits, and household bills, treat September 1 as your anchor date. Build everything else around it.
Note: You can make prepayments before bills are even issued - a good way to stay ahead of the September 1 deadline.
Surry County may offer a discount for payments received before September 1. Timing matters here. Once bills arrive in late July or early August, move fast if you want the county to receive your payment before that cutoff.
Tip: Keep proof of when you paid and when the county received it, since the discount is tied to money received prior to September 1.
Unpaid taxes become delinquent after January 5 of the following year. That's the line between "still pending" and "now delinquent" - and crossing it adds stress fast, especially when you're already managing things for someone who can't.
Warning: After January 5, delinquent taxes are subject to enforced collections efforts, so it’s worth planning well before that point.
- Flag the mailing window - watch for the bill in late July to early August so you can act quickly once it arrives.
- Circle September 1 - taxes for real estate, individual personal property, and business personal property are due September 1 for the current tax year.
- Decide whether to prepay - prepayments can be made prior to bills being issued if you’re trying to stay ahead of the rush.
- Aim for “received before September 1” if you’re paying early - payments received prior to September 1 may qualify for a discount.
- Save your records - keep documentation showing your payment and timing, especially if you’re relying on the early-payment discount.
- Treat January 5 as the backstop - taxes become delinquent after January 5 of the following year and can be subject to enforced collections efforts.
Not sure if your payment arrived in time for the discount? Worried you're approaching the January 5 delinquency date? Call the county tax office. A quick confirmation can keep a small timing issue from snowballing into a collections problem.
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