(a) All property subject to ad valorem taxation in any city or town shall be listed annually during the period prescribed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-307 in the city or town in which it is taxable in the name of the person required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-302 and 105-306 on an abstract prepared according to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-309 and affirmed as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-310 In lieu of requiring property owners to list their property with the city or town, the governing body of any city or town may make provision for obtaining from the abstracts and tax records of the county in which the municipality is situated lists of the property subject to taxation by the city or town.

(b) Regardless of whether a city or town adopts the alternative provided in the second sentence of subsection (a), above, the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-311 and 105-312 shall apply to the listing of property for municipal taxation, as shall the penalties imposed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-308 and 105-312 for failure to list. In the preparation of abstracts, tax records, and tax receipts the city or town shall be governed by the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-318, 105-319, 105-320, and 105-321. The powers and duties assigned to the assessor by the statutes cited as being applicable to municipalities shall be imposed  upon and exercised by some official designated by the governing body of the city or town, and the powers and duties assigned therein to the board of county commissioners shall be imposed upon and exercised by the governing body of the city or town. (1939, c. 310, s. 1201; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 45, s. 1.)