New due date set for vehicle taxes

FRONT ROYAL -- The Warren County Board of Supervisors has unanimously agreed to change the due date and redefine the license year for vehicle license taxes.

Because the supervisors approved twice-a-year billing for real estate, personal property, machinery and tools taxes in July, vehicle license payments need to be billed with the first one-half installment along with the other taxes, County Attorney Blair D. Mitchell said.

Under the new twice-a-year billing format, which goes into effect in 2010, first-half tax bills will be mailed in May and are due by June 5. The second billing will be mailed in October and is due Dec. 5. Either a penalty of 10 percent of the tax past due or $10, depending on which is greater, will be applied to overdue bills.

To allow for the vehicle license tax due date to be changed to June 5, the current license year definition has been redefined to run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 rather than the sixth day of December of one year to the fifth day of December of the next year, as it previously was. The vehicle tax will not be billed this December, but will be billed in May 2010 at the full amount.

Daily Staff Report