CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Have you ever paid personal property taxes on your pet? If not, and you live in West Virginia, you may be evading taxes without realizing it. there is.
According to West Virginia law, county assessors are responsible for collecting dog and cat poll taxes. The tax is $3 for each dog over 6 months old, but many cities have additional municipal taxes that usually add $1 to $5 for him.
Here are some cities that charge additional license fees for dogs if they live within the city limits. These are just the prices from a quick Google search.
- Clarksburg
- bridgeport
- Shinston
- philippis
- fairmont
- fairview
- farmington
- grant town
- Mannington
- Rivesville
- worthington
- buckhannon
- morgantown
- waist over
- granville
- star city
- durbin
- hillsboro
- Marlington
- charleston
- south charleston
- st albans
- dunbar
- nitro
- huntington
- vienna
- williamstown
- ripley
- Ravenswood
- blue field
- lewisburg
- white sulfur springs
- wheeling
- moundsville
- glendale
- sandhill
- benwood
- charles town
Some counties, such as Harrison, Barbour, Greenbrier, and Jefferson, do not have a specific list of cities, but instead charge an additional fee for locations “within city limits.”
Most appraisers will ask you to specify the age, gender, breed, and color of your dog.
The only exception to licensing/tax is for service dogs and guide dogs. Although the WV Code was amended in 1998 to exclude guide and service dogs, they still must be registered as guide and service dogs.
Bills that would have included cats in the poll tax or completely eliminated the tax on household pets were introduced, but none passed.
What happens if I don't pay taxes?
According to WV law, those who do not pay their taxes will be reported to a “dog warden” who will keep their dog for 15 years for a $1.50 fee. If the tax is not paid after 15 days, the sheriff is authorized to sell the dog to pay the delinquent tax.of WV code It further states, “If the sheriff fails to sell any dog seized within the time specified herein, he shall kill the dog and dispose of the carcass.''
Once the tax is paid, the dog is considered registered and the registration tag must be displayed on the dog at all times. If a dog is found without a registration tag, it may be “seized, sold, or destroyed” under the following provisions: WV code.
Dog licensing laws are not always strictly enforced in West Virginia.Ann Monongalia County old tax documents It is estimated that less than half of dogs in the country have the proper license.
