Orange County officials are telling residents that they can pre-pay their 2018 property taxes before new federal tax laws take effect on January 1.
The response from the county comes after residents emailed members of the Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Commissioners in the public email archive asking about their options.
The unusual rush comes after Republicans in the United States House and Senate passed new legislation overhauling the country’s tax code. One provision of the new law caps the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted at $10,000. The rush to get tax payments in before the end of the calendar year has become the subject of national news stories, especially after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order authorizing localities to collect payments early and for residents to make partial payments.
Even with local governments collecting payments early, there is still no clear indication as to whether there will be a benefit to taxpayers until further guidance is issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
But for Orange County residents who would like to pre-pay 2018 property taxes, county offices open back up from the holiday break for normal business hours on Thursday and Friday and residents can pay in-person at 228 South Churton Street in Hillsborough.
Residents can also call county tax offices at (919) 245-2100 or email tax@orangecountync.gov.
County officials warn that if a large number of residents choose to pre-pay their property taxes, there could be a backlog and they ask that residents be patient with the process.
Related Stories
‹

Orange County Creates Work Group to Advise Its Property Tax Revaluation ApproachThe Orange County commissioners approved the creation of a work group to review and potentially update its property tax assessment process.

Orange County Coalition Raises Alarm Over Property Value Inequities From 2025 RevaluationA coalition of housing advocates is looking at updated Orange County property values and pointing out notable discrepancies in assessments.

With Revaluation Underway, Orange County Faces Another Significant Rise in Property ValuesOrange County is likely to see a jump of more than 50% in total property value this four-year cycle once revaluation appraisals are finished.
![]()
Tax Deadline in Orange and Chatham Counties Unchanged Amid Inclement WeatherLingering impacts from Winter Strom Grayson have caused local schools and government offices to close or operate on a delay over the last two days. Friday was also originally the deadline to pay property taxes without penalty in Orange and the surrounding counties. The inclement weather caused Orange and Chatham county government offices to be […]
![]()
Orange County Residents Pre-Paying Taxes May See No BenefitThere may be a long line of Orange County residents pre-paying 2018 property taxes Thursday and Friday, but it may all be for naught. A change passed in the recent overhaul of the United States tax code has been the subject of national news stories in recent days and has incited an unusual scenario – […]
![]()
CH May Hike Prop Taxes This Year; OC And Carrboro May NotOfficials in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County are gearing up for another round of difficult budget talks—and although the economy may be on the rebound, County Manager Frank Clifton says local governments still have no more money to work with than they did five years ago. “We’re at 2008 levels–and actually the county’s budget […]
![]()
Conversations We Need To Have: Orange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul SlackOrange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul Slack spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 15. He discussed recent work of the Office of Civil Rights, and previewed some upcoming events for the county, and more.

Chapel Hill Changes Its Leaf Collection Policy to Only Accept ContainersWith the fall season approaching, the Town of Chapel Hill is changing how it collects leaves and is no longer collecting loose piles.

FEMA Approves Disaster Assistance for Chantal's Flood-Damaged Areas, Including Orange CountyTwo months after flash floodwaters ripped through central North Carolina, funding from FEMA is headed to the affected areas.
![]()
Orange County: Highlights From Commissioners Meeting, CARE Team Expands, MoreChair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 10, discussing county news and events. She talked about highlights from the county commissioners meeting, which included a request for more information on the Land Use 2050 Plan. She discussed the recent funding of an expansion for […]
›