Forsyth County, home to Winston-Salem and roughly 385k North Carolinians, uses North Carolina's straightforward ad valorem property tax system: assessed value equals 100% of appraised value, and tax is the combined county + municipal rate applied per $100 of that value. Unlike Florida, Texas, or Indiana, North Carolina has no universal homestead exemption — every primary residence is taxed on full appraised value. This guide covers the math, the four narrow relief programs that do exist, and the reappraisal cycles that drive most rate changes.
How the bill is built
North Carolina property tax is the simplest of the seven states we cover. Start with your home's appraised value as set by the county assessor during the most recent reappraisal. By state law, this must equal 100% of true market value — there is no separate "assessed value" concept like in Indiana or Arizona. Add together the applicable rates per $100 of value: the county rate (set annually by the Board of Commissioners), the municipal rate if you live inside an incorporated city or town, and any special district rates (fire district, school district supplement). Divide your appraised value by 100, multiply by the combined rate, and that's your annual tax bill.
2026 Forsyth County rate breakdown (per $100 AV, Winston-Salem district)
| Taxing entity | Rate |
|---|---|
| Forsyth County | 0.5352 |
| City of Winston-Salem | 0.5670 |
| Combined total | 1.1022 |
Exclusions and relief for 2026
North Carolina takes a different philosophical approach than most Southeast states: instead of offering a universal homestead exemption to every owner-occupant, NC only offers tax relief to specific categories of owners — seniors, the permanently disabled, and disabled veterans. Everyone else pays on 100% of appraised value. This is why NC's effective rates look competitive even though rates per $100 aren't: most states with lower rates also have broad homestead exemptions that dramatically shrink the tax base.
Elderly/Disabled Homestead Exclusion — the primary relief program
Qualifying owners can exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the appraised value of their permanent residence from taxation. Requirements: (1) age 65 or older on January 1, or totally and permanently disabled (certified by a physician), (2) 2025 household income not exceeding $38,800, and (3) the property is your permanent legal residence. Apply by filing Form AV-9 with the Forsyth County Tax Administration by June 1. One-time application — you don't need to re-file each year unless circumstances change.
Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker Deferment
An alternative to the Exclusion for income-qualified seniors and the disabled: your property tax is capped at 4% of your income if 2025 income is under $38,800, or 5% of income if between $38,801 and $58,200. The tax above that cap is deferred — it accumulates as a lien on your home and becomes due when you sell, transfer ownership, or stop using the property as your primary residence. The last three years of deferred taxes come due; anything older is forgiven. File Form AV-9 annually (unlike the Exclusion, this is not a one-time application).
You can elect either the Exclusion or the Circuit Breaker — not both. Most homeowners benefit more from the Exclusion; the Circuit Breaker helps if your property is unusually valuable relative to your income.
Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion
Honorably discharged veterans with a 100% service-connected permanent and total disability — or the unmarried surviving spouse of such a veteran — qualify for a $45,000 exclusion from the appraised value of their permanent residence. No income limit applies. File Form AV-9 with your county tax office.
Present Use Value (for farmland, forestry, and horticulture)
Not a homeowner program, but worth mentioning: North Carolina's Present Use Value program allows qualifying agricultural, horticultural, or forestry land to be taxed on its use value rather than market value. If you own 10+ acres of actively-farmed land, this can reduce your tax base dramatically. A change of use triggers a three-year rollback of deferred taxes.
Appealing your valuation
North Carolina appeals are time-sensitive and follow a specific escalation path. When you receive a Notice of Value from the Forsyth County Tax Administration (typically the January following a reappraisal year), you have 30 days to file an informal appeal with the county assessor. If unresolved, escalate to the County Board of Equalization and Review (which typically meets April through early summer). Final appeals go to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission in Raleigh, and from there to the NC Court of Appeals. The vast majority of successful appeals resolve at the informal assessor-review stage with comparable sales data or an independent appraisal showing a lower market value.
The best time to appeal is during a reappraisal year. Rate cuts after a revaluation are designed to be revenue-neutral on average, which means individual properties that appreciated more than average will see higher bills even if the rate drops. If your home's assessment rose significantly above the county average, the comparable-sales case is often strong.