The rush is on for those hoping to see a discount on their property taxes for the first half of the year. Taxpayers in the Kanawha Valley must make their payment by Thursday.
Most taxpayers take advantage of the 2.5 percent discount by paying personal property taxes by Thursday, said Kanawha Chief Tax Deputy Allen Bleigh.
Each year the counties send tax assessments by mail to residents. Every West Virginia resident is required to fill out the assessment form and return it to their county assessor each year.
Property owners who do not pay taxes may face legal consequences, Bleigh said. This could be a tax lien placed on real estate or a lawsuit filed in circuit or magistrate court.
Since the taxes are assessed on the previous year, anyone who was a West Virginia resident and owned property in 2015 has to pay property taxes, regardless if they've moved to a different state.
"If you move out of state you still owe tax here even though you've moved out of state," Bleigh said. "You could potentially be sued if you don't pay."
In an effort to make paying taxes easier and quicker, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office closed the right lane of Virginia Street East to allow taxpayers to park for free.
"It's not so much as to help us as it is to [help] citizens - just making things as convenient and as efficient as we can. It's tough finding places to park," Bleigh said. "Nobody likes to pay taxes, but it really frustrates you when you can't find a place to park."
In Putnam County, parking wasn't an issue Tuesday, but some taxpayers had to wait in a long line once inside the courthouse building.
Putnam County Assessor Sherry Hayes said this is a typical sight during this time of year, with people opting to pay taxes in-person to avoid credit card charges online. Credit card charges online vary based on the amount owed, but there is no transaction fee for cash, checks or e-checks.
As assessor, Hayes said she doesn't want anyone paying anymore than they have to in taxes. She encouraged residents to make sure they notify the county of any address changes. Anyone who hasn't received a tax ticket should call the sheriff's department.
"Pay early, and pay less," Hayes said.
For more information on property taxes, contact the Kanawha or Putnam County sheriff's tax offices.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.