SUBCHAPTER IX. MULTICOUNTY TAXES.

(a) Tax. - The board of trustees of an Authority may levy a privilege tax on a retailer who is engaged in the business of leasing or renting U-drive-it vehicles or motorcycles based on the gross receipts derived by the retailer from the short-term lease or rental of these vehicles. The tax rate must be a percentage and may not exceed five percent (5%). A tax levied under this section applies to short-term leases or rentals made by a retailer whose place of business or inventory is located within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. This tax is in addition to all other taxes.

(c) Special Tax District. - If a regional transportation authority created under Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes has not levied the tax under this section or has levied the tax at a rate of less than five percent (5%), it may create a special district that consists of the entire area of one or more counties within its territorial jurisdiction and may levy on behalf of the special district the tax authorized in this section. The rate of tax levied within the special district may not, when combined with the rate levied within the entire territorial jurisdiction of the authority, exceed five percent (5%). The regional transportation authority may not levy or increase a tax within the special district unless the board of commissioners of each county in the special district has adopted a resolution approving the levy or increase.

A special district created pursuant to this subsection is a body corporate and politic and has the power to carry out the purposes of this subsection. The board of trustees of the regional transportation authority created under Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes shall serve, ex officio, as the governing body of a special district it creates pursuant to this subsection. The proceeds of a tax levied under this subsection may be used only for the benefit of the special district and only for the purposes provided in G.S. 105-554. Except as provided in this subsection, a tax levied under this subsection is governed by the provisions of this Article. (1997-417, s. 3; 1998-98, s. 34; 1999-445, s. 3; 1999-452, s. 27.)

§ 105-552. Collection and administration of gross receipts tax.

(a) Effective Date. - A tax or a tax increase levied under this Article becomes effective on the date set by the board of trustees in the resolution levying the tax or the tax increase. The effective date must be the first day of a month and may not be earlier than the first day of the second month after the board of trustees adopts the resolution.

(b) Collection. - A tax levied by an Authority under this Article shall be collected by the Authority but shall otherwise be administered in the same manner as the optional gross receipts tax levied by G.S. 105-187.5. Like the optional gross receipts tax, a tax levied under this Article is to be added to the lease or rental price of a U-drive-it vehicle or motorcycle and thereby be paid by the person to whom it is leased or rented.

A tax levied under this Article applies regardless of whether the retailer who leases or rents the U-drive-it vehicle or motorcycle has elected to pay the optional gross receipts tax on the lease or rental receipts from the vehicle. A tax levied under this Article must be paid to the Authority that levied the tax by the date an optional gross receipts tax would be payable to the Secretary of Revenue under G.S. 105-187.5 if the retailer who leases or rents the U-drive-it vehicle or motorcycle had elected to pay the optional gross receipts tax.

(c) Penalties and Remedies. - The penalties and remedies that apply to local sales and use taxes levied under Subchapter VIII of this Chapter apply to a tax levied under this Article. The board of trustees of an Authority may exercise any power the Secretary of Revenue or a board of county commissioners may exercise in collecting local sales and use taxes. (1997-417, s. 3; 1998-98, s. 35; 1999-452, s. 28.)

§ 105-553. Exemptions and refunds.

No exemptions are allowed from a tax levied under this Article. No refunds are allowed for a tax lawfully levied under this Article. (1997-417, s. 3.)

§ 105-554. Use of tax proceeds.

An Authority that levies a tax under this Article may use the proceeds of the tax for any purpose for which the Authority is authorized to use funds. An Authority shall use the tax proceeds to supplement and not to supplant or replace existing funds or other resources for public transportation systems. Authorized purposes for which an Authority may use funds include the following:

(1) Pledging funds in connection with the financing of a public transportation system or any part of a public transportation system.

(2) Paying a note, bond, or other obligation entered into by the Authority pursuant to Article 26 or Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes. (1997-417, s. 3.)

§ 105-555. Repeal of tax or decrease in tax rate.

The board of trustees of an Authority may repeal a tax levied under this Article or decrease the tax rate of a tax levied under this Article. The same restrictions that apply to the levy of a tax or an increase in a tax rate under this Article apply to the repeal of the tax or a decrease in the tax rate.

A tax repeal or a tax decrease becomes effective on the date set by the board of trustees in the resolution repealing or decreasing the tax. The effective date must be on the first day of a month and may not be earlier than the first day of the second month after the board of trustees adopts the resolution. Repeal or decrease of a tax levied under this Article does not affect the rights or liabilities of an Authority, a taxpayer, or another person arising before the repeal or decrease. (1997-417, s. 3.)

§§ 105-556 through 105-559. Reserved for future codification purposes.

Article 51.

Regional Transit Authority Registration Tax.

§ 105-560. Definitions.

(1) Authority. - Any of the following:

a. A public transportation authority created pursuant to Article 25 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes that includes two or more counties.

b. A regional public transportation authority created pursuant to Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.

c. A regional transportation authority created pursuant to Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.

(2) Board of trustees. - The governing body of an Authority.

(3) Public transportation system. - Defined in G.S. 105-550. (1997-417, s. 4.)

§ 105-561. Authority registration tax authorized.

(a) Tax Authorized. - The board of trustees of an Authority may, by resolution, levy an annual license tax in accordance with this Article upon any motor vehicle with a tax situs within its territorial jurisdiction. The purpose of the tax levied under this Article is to raise revenue for capital and operating expenses of an Authority in providing public transportation systems. The rate of tax levied under this Article must be a full dollar amount, but may not exceed ten dollars ($10.00) a year.

(b) Restrictions. - The board of trustees of an Authority may not levy a tax under this Article or increase the tax rate until all of the following requirements have been met:

(1) The board of trustees has held a public hearing on the tax or the increase in the tax rate after giving at least 10 days' notice of the hearing.

(2) If the Authority has a special tax board, the special tax board has adopted a resolution approving the levy of the tax or the increase in the tax rate.

(3) Except where the levy or increase in tax is necessary for debt service on bonds or notes that each of the boards of county commissioners had previously approved under G.S. 159-51, the board of commissioners of each county included in the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority has adopted a resolution approving the levy of the tax or the increase in the tax rate.

(c) Resolutions. - The board of trustees and the board of county commissioners, upon adoption of a resolution pursuant to this section, shall cause a certified copy of the resolution to be delivered immediately to the Authority and to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(d) Special Tax District. - If a regional transportation authority created under Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes or a regional public transportation authority created under Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes has not levied the tax under this section or has levied the tax at a rate of less than ten dollars ($10.00), it may create a special district that consists of the entire area of one or more counties within its territorial jurisdiction and may levy on behalf of the special district the tax authorized in this section. The rate of tax levied within the special district may not, when combined with the rate levied within the entire territorial jurisdiction of the authority; exceed ten dollars ($10.00). The regional transportation authority may not levy or increase a tax within the special district unless the board of commissioners of each county in the special district has adopted a resolution approving the levy or increase.

A special district created pursuant to this subsection is a body corporate and politic and has the power to carry out the purposes of this subsection. The board of trustees of the regional transportation authority created under Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes or a regional public transportation authority created under Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes shall serve, ex officio, as the governing body of a special district it creates pursuant to this subsection. The proceeds of a tax levied under this subsection may be used only for the benefit of the special district and only for the purposes provided in G.S. 105-564. Except as provided in this subsection, a tax levied under this subsection is governed by the provisions of this Article. (1997-417, s. 4; 1999-445, s. 4; 2009-527, s. 3(a)-(d); 2013-414, s. 50; 2024-30, s. 30(a).)

§ 105-562. Collection and scope.

(a) Collection. - A tax or a tax increase levied under this Article becomes effective on the date set by the board of trustees in the resolution levying the tax or the tax increase. The effective date must be the first day of a month and may not be earlier than the first day of the sixth calendar month after the board of trustees adopts the resolution. To the extent the tax applies to vehicles whose tax situs is in a county the entire area of which is within the jurisdiction of the Authority, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall collect and administer the tax. To the extent the tax applies to vehicles whose tax situs is in a county that is only partially within the jurisdiction of the county, the Authority shall collect and administer the tax. The Authority may contract with one or more local governments in its jurisdiction to collect the tax on its behalf.

Upon receipt of the resolutions under G.S. 105-561, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall proceed to collect and administer the tax as provided in this Article. The tax is due at the same time and subject to the same restrictions as in G.S. 20-87(1), (2), (4), (5), (6), and (7) and G.S. 20-88. The Division of Motor Vehicles may adopt rules to carry out its responsibilities under this Article.

(b) Scope. - Only vehicles required to pay a tax under G.S. 20-87(1), (2), (4), (5), (6), and (7) and G.S. 20-88 shall be subject to the tax provided by this Article. Taxes shall be prorated in accordance with G.S. 20-95.

(c) Tax Situs. - The tax situs of a motor vehicle for the purpose of this Article is its ad valorem tax situs. If the vehicle is exempt from ad valorem tax, its tax situs for the purpose of this Article is the ad valorem tax situs it would have if it were not exempt from ad valorem tax.

(d) Any tax or tax increase levied under this Article applicable to a motor vehicle sold or leased by a motor vehicle dealer, as defined in G.S. 20-286(11), is only applicable to a motor vehicle sale or lease made on or after the effective date of the tax or tax increase regardless of the date of submission of a title and registration application for the motor vehicle to the Division of Motor Vehicles. No tax or tax increase levied under this Article applies to a motor vehicle sale or lease made prior to the effective date of the tax or tax increase. (1997-417, s. 4; 2009-527, s. 5(a); 2018-42, s. 6.)

§ 105-563. Modification or repeal of tax.

The Board of Trustees may, by resolution, repeal the levy of the tax under this Article or decrease the amount of the tax, under the same procedures and subject to the same limitations as provided in G.S. 105-561. A tax repeal or a tax decrease becomes effective on the date set by the board of trustees in the resolution repealing or decreasing the tax. The effective date must be on the first day of a month and may not be earlier than the first day of the sixth calendar month after the board of trustees adopts the resolution. Repeal or decrease of a tax levied under this Article does not affect the rights or liabilities of an Authority, a taxpayer, or another person arising before the repeal or decrease. (1997-417, s. 4; 2009-527, s. 5(b).)

§ 105-564. Distribution and use of proceeds.

The Authority shall retain the net proceeds of taxes it collects under this Article. Taxes collected by the Division of Motor Vehicles under this Article shall be credited to a special fund and the net proceeds disbursed quarterly to the appropriate Authority. Interest credited to the fund shall be disbursed quarterly to the Highway Fund to reimburse the Division of Motor Vehicles for the cost of collecting and administering the tax.

An Authority that levies a tax under this Article may use the proceeds of the tax for any purpose for which the Authority is authorized to use funds. An Authority shall use the tax proceeds to supplement and not to supplant or replace existing funds or other resources for public transportation systems. (1997-417, s. 4.)

§ 105-565. Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-566. Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-567. Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-568. Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-569. Reserved for future codification purposes.

Article 52.

County Vehicle Registration Tax.

§ 105-570. County Vehicle Registration Tax; shared with municipalities.

(a) A county is considered an authority under Article 51 of this Chapter, and the board of commissioners of that county is considered the board of trustees of the authority under Article 51, except that the maximum tax that may be levied by a county under this Article is seven dollars ($7.00) per year.

(b) A county may not levy a tax under this Article unless the county or at least one unit of local government in the county operates a public transportation system.

(c) Any tax levied under this Article shall, after the receipt of those funds from the Division of Motor Vehicles, be retained or distributed by the county on a per capita basis as it receives those funds as follows:

(1) Pro rata (i) retained by the county based on the population of the county that is not in an incorporated area, and (ii) distributed to the municipalities within the county based on the population of that municipality that is located within that county. To determine the population of each county and municipality, the county shall use the most recent annual estimate of population certified by the State Budget Officer.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, if a municipality to which funds are to be distributed does not operate a public transportation system, the population of that municipality shall be excluded from the calculations of subdivision (1) of this subsection and no distribution shall be made to that municipality.

(3) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, if a county for which funds are to be retained does not operate a public transportation system, the population of that county not in an incorporated area shall be excluded from the calculations of subdivision (1) of this subsection, and the county shall not retain any funds.

If a county that does not retain funds or a municipality that does not receive an allocation of funds on account of subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection begins to operate a public transportation system, that county or municipality shall begin retaining or receiving funds beginning the first day of July that is more than 30 days thereafter.

(d) The proceeds of a tax imposed under this Article may be used by that county or municipality only to operate a public transportation system, including financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining that public transportation system. The term "public transportation system" has the same meaning as defined in G.S. 105-506.1.

(e) As used in this section, operation of a public transportation system includes a contract or interlocal agreement for operation of the public transportation system by another county or municipality, or by a transportation authority created under (i) a municipal charter; or (ii) Article 25, 26, or 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes. As used in this section, operation of a public transportation system also includes a contract with a private entity for operation of the public transportation system.

(f) An interlocal agreement under this section may also deal with allocation of funds between a municipality and county for operation by the county of a human services public transportation system within the municipality when the municipality also operates a public transportation system.

(g) This Article is supplemental to Article 51 of this Chapter.

(h) Any tax or tax increase levied under this Article applicable to a motor vehicle sold or leased by a motor vehicle dealer, as defined in G.S. 20-286(11), is only applicable to a motor vehicle sale or lease made on or after the effective date of the tax or tax increase regardless of the date of submission of a title and registration application for the motor vehicle to the Division of Motor Vehicles. No tax or tax increase levied under this Article applies to a motor vehicle sale or lease made prior to the effective date of the tax or tax increase. (2009-527, s. 4; 2018-42, s. 7.)

§ 105-571: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-572: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-573: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-574: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-575: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-576: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-577: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-578: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-579: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-580: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-581: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-582: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-583: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-584: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-585: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-586: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-587: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-588: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-589: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-590: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-591: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-592: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-593: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-594: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-595: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-596: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-597: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-598: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 105-599: Reserved for future codification purposes.