Welcome to the Stone County Tax Assessor web page.  Here you will find information about our office and descriptions of our duties, plus our office address, telephone numbers, and email address.  Please feel free to contact us if we can be of service to you.

Charles Williams, Jr.
Tax Assessor and Collector
308 Court Street
Wiggins MS 39577
Phone: 601-928-3121
Fax: 601-928-2507
Email: cwilliams@stonecountyms.gov
Hours: M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Tax Assessor Duties and Responsibilities

The Tax Assessor is required to annually locate, class and assess all taxable property within the County, and is responsible for setting fair, uniform and accurate values for each parcel of real and personal property. The Tax Assessor is also charged by the Board of Supervisors to maintain current ownership maps of the county. In addition to these appraisal duties, we work daily with local and national agencies to promote the economic well being of the County and its citizens.

The Assessor lists and places a value on all real estate within the county and also on personal property (which includes such things as machinery, office equipment, and similar items). Maps, records, and other documents are kept to help establish the value of such property. The Assessor presents these tax rolls to the Board of Supervisors for approval. He or she also helps homeowners file for homestead exemption, which allows some of the homeowner's property to be exempt from property (ad valorem) taxes.

Tax Collector Duties and Responsibilities

The office of the Tax Collector is established by Article 5, Section 135 of the Mississippi Constitution. This position is elected for a four-year term by the county at large.  The Tax Collector is responsible for the collection of taxes on real property, personal property, manufactured homes, automobiles, motorcycles, motor homes, trailers and airplanes.  Use tax is collected on items brought to the State of Mississippi by residents for first use, storage or consumption. Sales Tax is collected on casual sales of motor vehicles between individuals.

Statute allows the payment of real property taxes in installments as long as the first payment is at least one-half of the taxes due and is made by February 1st following the tax year for which payment is collected. Installment payments are subject to 1% per month interest on the unpaid balance for the second and third payments.

The Tax Collector must advertise and hold a tax sale once a year for any unpaid taxes on real estate or any special assessments. Accurate records must be kept at all times, since this office is involved in the collection of taxes that help fund a variety of government services.

REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER A TITLE OR TAG

The following items are required when requesting a Tag or Title transfer:

  • Original title (signed by owner or owners as shown on the front) or a copy of the title application provided by the dealer.
  • Odometer disclosure statement if vehicle is newer than ten (10) years
  • New owner or owners must be present to sign title application (unless a notarized power of attorney form is used)
  • Proof of Residency (utility bill or other item with home address indicated)
  • Window sticker with MSRP for new cars      

RENEWALS

Vehicle registration (car tags) can be renewed in person at the Tax Collector’ Office or by mail.

MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSING

Upon the purchase of a new vehicle, the tag must be purchased within seven (7) working days of the purchase date to avoid penalties.

The Mississippi Department of Revenue provides specialty tags available for a fee.  Click here for a list and a picture of the current tag list. To view a list of the Nascar driver license plates, click here. 

Upon selling or trading a vehicle, the seller shall remove the license plate from the vehicle and surrender the tag and receipt to the tax collector's office for credit towards another tag or a certificate of credit. No refunds.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

  • First working day in January - Begin accepting New Homestead Applications or making changes to existing applications.
  • February 1st - Last day to pay real estate, personal property, and mobile home taxes without a late fee.
  • April 1st - Last day to file for homestead exemption.
  • April 1st - Last day for businesses to file personal property renditions.
  • July 15th - Land rolls and personal property rolls open for public inspection.
  • July 31st - Last day to pay real estate taxes to keep them from being published in the newspaper.
  • First Monday in August - Deadline to file valuation appeals with the board of supervisors for both real and personal properties.
  • Last Monday in August - Property tax sale of all delinquent accounts.
  • October 1st - New millage rates go into effect.
  • December 1st - Begin collecting real and personal property taxes.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Homestead Exemption may be filed from January 1st to April 1st. The following documents are needed when filing for homestead exemption:

  • All deeds to your property (it has to be the recorded instrument - warranty deeds or quit-claims -- NOT the Deed of Trust)
  • Car tag numbers for all vehicles owned by you or in your possession.  (If you have tags other than Stone County, you must change them before you can file).
  • Social Security numbers for you, your spouse and any joint owners.
  • Birth dates for you, your spouse and any joint owners.
  • Purchase price of home.
  • Amount of down-payment or equity.
  • Purchase price of land, if you purchased it separately from the home.
  • If you built your home yourself, we need to know what it cost you to build it.
  • If you live in a mobile home on your property, you must bring your mobile home registration certificate.
  • If you are 65 years of age or older, you need to bring proof of age, such as a driver's license or birth certificate.
  • If you are 100% disabled, you should inquire as to what you should do.

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