Assessor Laurie Allen
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday – Friday (except on legal holidays)
Mailing Address:
PO Box 229
Magnolia, MS 39652
Physical Address:
218 E. Bay Street
Magnolia, MS 39652
Phone: (601) 783-4130
Fax: (601) 783-3232
DUTIES OF THE ASSESSOR:
The Assessor has the responsibility of discovery, listing, and valuation of all property in Pike County. All taxable property valued by the Assessor is then taxed ad valorem or ‘according to value’. The Assessor’s Office also assists homeowners in the application process for Homestead Exemption, maintains records of ownership for all properties assessed in the county, registers mobile homes, and appraises furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, and inventory used in business operations. Every four years, we are required to reappraise the county and bring our values closer to fair market value. With nearly 27,000 parcels to be appraised, the Pike County Assessor’s Office uses the mass appraisal system. It is a statistical model used to value properties. This is the same approach used in many of the counties and parishes across the United States. It has standards of accuracy and those standards are applied to the tax roll to ensure that we’ve got everybody valued appropriately.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- First working day in January – Begin accepting new Homestead Applications or making changes to existing applications.
- February 1 – Last day to pay real estate, personal property, and mobile home taxes without a late fee.
- April 1- Last day to file for homestead exemption (or last working day in March, if April 1 is a holiday or falls on a weekend).
- April 1 – Last day for businesses to file personal property renditions.
- July 15 – Land rolls and personal property rolls open for public inspection.
- July 31 – 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 1 – New millage rates go into effect.
- Middle of December – Begin collecting real and personal property taxes.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION:
Homestead Exemption is a privilege offered to eligible taxpayers by the State of Mississippi. The exemption is not granted automatically. An application must be filed in the Assessor’s office and each taxpayer must qualify for the exemption.
If you are already receiving Homestead Exemption, it is not necessary to reapply each year unless one of the following changes has occurred prior to January 1, 2018:
- Any change in the property or homestead status such as a change of residences move to another location, addition or improvement of existing buildings
- If you bought property adjoining or within 5 miles of your homestead property or if you sold a portion of your homestead property
- If you filed a new deed affecting your homestead property
- Change in marital status (marriage, divorce, separation or reconciliation, or death of a spouse)
- If you turned 65 years of age or became disabled prior to January 1, 2018, and are not already receiving Special Homestead Exemption
- Change in the use of the property (rented part or all of your home; opened or closed a business in your home or on your homestead property)
The following information will be needed in order to complete your Homestead Exemption application. Please have with you at the time that you file:
- Full purchase price
- Down payment amount
- Proof of age (valid driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.)
- Current year Social Security disability proof from the social security administration
- For Disabled Veteran Disability (100% service-connected) –Veterans Administration letter with claim number
- Social Security Numbers for applicant and spouse, if applicable
- Tag numbers for all automobiles titled in your name, spouse’s, and/or occupying joint owner’s name
RESOURCES AND LINKS: