Here’s how to prepay your 2018 Mecklenburg County taxes. And why you couldn’t before.

Mecklenburg County is now accepting prepayments for 2018 tax bills.

However, the Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday that prepayments could only be deducted from federal taxes if they were both assessed and paid this year, which many local governments have not yet done, according to The Washington Post. In Mecklenburg County, 2018 taxes are based on the value of their home on Jan. 1, 2018, according to the County.

Many homeowners were rushing to prepay their tax bills before the new GOP tax law takes effect on Jan. 1, according to The Wall Street Journal, so they can deduct the amount before a new limit takes effect. The new law caps the amount of local and state taxes that can be deducted from federal taxes.

Mecklenburg County was unable to accept prepayments up until late last week because systems were down due a hacking earlier this month.

The Mecklenburg County Office of the Tax Collector says it is accepting prepayments in check or money order only, according to the county. A note should indicate the parcel number and that the payment is a 2018 prepayment, according to the county.

A receipt will acknowledge the prepayment. However, the county says there is no guarantee to the date the check or money order will be paid by the issuing bank.

Mail prepayments to:

Office of the Tax Collector

ATTN: Prepayment

P.O. Box 31457

Charlotte, NC 28231-1457

In-person payment may be made at Walton Plaza located at 700 E. Stonewall St.

This story was originally published December 27, 2017 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Here’s how to prepay your 2018 Mecklenburg County taxes. And why you couldn’t before.."