Yes, depending on the type of business, location of the business, number of primary jobs created and other factors.  We have a variety of potential incentives.  For more information and to find out if your business qualifies please contact the West Fargo Economic Development office at 701-433-5311, visit the website at www.acityonthegrow.com or email mark.vaux@westfargond.gov.

The Renaissance Zone program is a tool to help cities revitalize their communities. By offering both state and local tax incentives for 5 years, both residents and business owners are provided with an incentive to invest in the community. The program is unique in that cities develop handcrafted development plans that address each city's specific goals.

North Dakota Law NDCC 57-02-08(20) provides that fixtures, buildings and improvements up to the amount of $120,000 when owned and occupied as a homestead by a disabled veteran of the United States Armed Forces who was honarably discharged or who has been retired from the armed forces with an armed forces service-connected disability of 50% or greater, or is the un-remarried surviving spouse of such a veteran may receive an exemption on their real estate taxes. When filing for the exemption for the first time, you must complete the "Application for Property Tax Exemption" and attach the following information:

1. An affidavit or physician's certificate declaring disability.
2. A copy of the veteran's DD214 showing that the veteran was honorably discharged from active military service.
3. A certificate from the Department of Veteran's Affairs certifying to the percentage of disability.

The exemption is automatically renewed annually. However, the veteran or the veteran's un-remarried spouse must re-file if that person sells the property, or no longer claims is as a primary place of residence or if the veteran dies or receives a change in the percentage of the certified rated service-connected disability. For further information please contact Shane Marcuson, Property Appraiser II, by calling him at 701-433-5342 or by emailing him at shane.marcuson@westfargond.gov.

North Dakota's Homestead Tax Credit Program (NDCC 57-02-08.1) provides assistance to lower income senior citizens and disabled persons in making their property tax payments.  Depending on their qualifications, a tax payer can save between 20-100% on their property taxes, up to a maximum taxable value of $100,000.  A property owner must be 65 years of age or older during the year in which the application is made unless that person is permanently and totally disabled.  The owner can't have assets in excess of $75,000 including the value of any assets gifted or otherwise divested within the last three years and excluding the unencumbered value of the homestead up to $100,000. Click here for complete details about the program.  The homestead credit will reduce the homeowner's taxable value according to the following schedule:

After gathering all the income and medial expenses for the prior year, you will also need to complete the application form and return it to West Fargo City Assessment Department.  If you need help completing the application, please contact Paul Fracassi, Property Appraiser I, at 701-433-5341 or by emailing him at paul.fracassi@westfargond.gov.  If you are a disabled person under the age of 65, you must provide a physician's certificate of disability.

According to NDCC 57-02-08(22) all or any part of fixtures, buildings, and improvements upon any non-farmland up to a valuation of $160,000,owned and occupied as a home by a blind person may be exempt from residential property taxes.  Residential homes owned by the spouse of a blind person, or jointly owned by a blind person and spouse, shall also be exempt within the limits of this subsection as long as the blind person resides in the home.  For purposes of this subsection, a blind person shall be defined as one who is totally blind, has visual acuity of not more than 20/200 in the better eye with correction, or whose vision is limited in field so that the widest diameter subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees.  The exemption provided by this subsection extends to the entire building classified as residential, and owned and occupied as a residence by a person who qualifies for the exemption as long as the building contains no more than two apartments or rental units which are leased.  Besides completing an application form first time applicants for this exemption must provide the assessment office with a copy of a doctor's certificate stating that the person is legally blind according to the NDCC. 

If you want any help in completing the application, please contact Paul Fracassi, Property Appraiser I for the City of West Fargo, by calling him at 701-433-5341, or by emailing him at paul.fracassi@westfargond.gov.

An appraisal is an estimate of the price that most people would likely pay for your house in its present condition.  Your annual property tax is based on this estimate of value.  The West Fargo Assessment Department places a value, or appraises, all property in the city.  These valuations determine the distribution of the property tax burden --not the total amount of taxes paid in the city.    The city conducts periodic reappraisals to assure that changes affecting market value (up or down) are reflected in your assessed value.  The average appraisal will take 15 - 20 minutes and will involve an outdoor and indoor inspection.  The determing factor if your taxes will go up or down is how the current assessed valuation relates to today's market value.  Any changes that occur from this reappraisal will not take affect until the tax bill you receive the following December (the December bill you receive reflects the value placed on your home according to it's value on the previous February 1st).

What are the ownership requirements?

The first owner after the builder is eligible to receive the exemption. The owner must reside on the property.

How is the incentive figured?

West Fargo offers $150,000 on new residential construction. The incentive is on the structure only. For example, if the property is valued at $175,000 with the land at $30,000 and the home at $145,000 then the most the incentive would be for is the $145,000 for the structure itself.

Do I owe any other taxes?

This incentive is for the general or consolidated taxes only. It does not cover any annual installment of specials or drain taxes.

When does the incentive start?

It starts January 1^st of the year after the property owner takes possession and occupies the home. If a property owner moves into the home in October 2013, then the exemption starts January 1^st, 2014 and will be for the years of 2014 and 2015

Will my escrow company consider the incentive when determining the escrow payment I make?

Yes, they will allow you to make smaller escrow payments during the time you are receiving the incentive. However, a property owner should make sure that the escrow company knows when to increase their escrow payment to avoid a shortage in their accounts when the exemption time has expired. Typically you would be required to pay back any escrow shortages plus start increasing your monthly escrow for the following year.

The City of West Fargo determined that the present method of assessment of real property did not encourage investment of capital in rehabilitation and remodeling of commercial and residential buildings which resulted in some properties being allowed to decay and become in need of repair and modernization; and thereby, resulting in a decreasing of the tax base.  The City chose to use the "Property Tax Exemption for Improvements to Commerical & Residential Buildings (NDCC 57-02.2) as an economic development tool to prevent this from happening. 

Also known as the remodeling exemption, the City offers either a three or five year exemption based on the value of the completed project.  If the property value increase is over $25,000 the property is eligible for five years.  If it is less than $25,000 the property is eligible for three years.  The application is filed with the City Assessor and it is determined by the assessment staff if the improvements qualify for the exemption.  A residential property must be at least 25 years old.  There is not an age requirement on commerical properties.  The exemption must be approved by the City Commission.  The last assessment on record will remain for up to five years and any value gained by the remodeling would be exempted.

The best time to apply for the remodeling exemption is before the project starts.  However, a property owner can apply after the project is completed and still be eligible.  This application form should be completed.  For more information about this program, click on the following links for a state brochure, the state guidelines  and West Fargo City guidelines.  For any further questions, please contact the City of West Fargo Asssessment Office by calling 701-433-5300 or emailing us at assessor@westfargond.gov.

According to NDCC 57-02-08 (20) ~ Any permanently and totally disabled person who is permanently confined to use of a wheelchair, or, if that person is deceased, the un-remarried surviving spouse of a permanently and totally disabled person is elgible for the wheelchair exemption.  If the spouse of a permanently and totally disabled person owns the homestead or if it is jointly owned by them, the same reduction in assessed valuation applies as long as both reside thereon.  The provisions of this subdivision do not reduce the liability for special assessments levied upon the homestead.  The phrase "permanently confined to use of a wheelchair" means that the person cannot walk with the assistance of crutches or any other device and will never be able to do so and that physician selected by the local governing board has so certified.

The maxium benefit may not exceed $4,500 taxable value, because a homestead is limited to $100,000 market value(see NDCC 47-18-01).  First times filers for this exemption  must provide the assessment office with a copy of a doctor's certificate stating that the person is "permanently confined to use of a wheelchair" according to the NDCC.   Afterwards our office will annually send an application to all the persons who received the wheelchair exemption in the previous year.  The doctor's certificate does not need to be filed annually but the application form does.

The application form used is the basic "Application for Property Tax Exemption."

For any further questions, please contact the City of West Fargo Assessment Office by calling 701-433-5300 or emailing them at asessor@westfargond.gov.

The City of West Fargo is committed to encouraging the creation of high quality affordable housing for its residents.  Historically the City has taken a preferred stand on private townhome style apartments over the the larger box style.  Additionally, when the preferred style apartment enter into rent restrictions for lower income persons, the City will consider a 15-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes in conjunction with the Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) provided by the federal government.

While there is a set of guidelines especially formulated for the LIHTC program, the application is the same as the New Industry/Pilot application.  The qualified project must file an annual report each December to be eligible for the exemption.  The report must reflect the amount of rents charged for the project.  The exemption will run for a 15 year period if the rent stays at the specified levels.  The West Fargo Economic Development Advisory Committee will review the application and make a recommendation to the West Fargo City Commission.

For more information on applying for the exemption, please contact Economic Development and Community Services Director Mark Vaux by calling 701-433-5311.

For questions concerning what this means in tax savings, please contact the City of West Fargo Asessment Office by calling 701-433-5340 or emailing them at assessor@westfargond.gov