Several reasons will be behind the high property tax on your home, some of which are within your control while some aren’t in your control. You should look into these reasons so you have the opportunity to decrease your tax payments, whether through appeals made to the Board of Assessors/Board of Equalization or through new declarations.
#1 Your Home has a Higher Assessed Value
Keep in mind that property tax computation can be as simple as the property’s assessed monetary value multiplied by the local tax rate applicable for the period. As such, the higher the assessed value of your home, the higher its property tax assessment will likely be – and the larger and more luxurious a residential property is, the higher its property tax, too.
There’s also the matter of a real property’s assessed value being affected by its estimated fair market value. In turn, the latter is influenced by a wide range of factors including:
- The distance of said property to schools and universities, commercial establishments, and the neighborhood; and
- The current sales price of residential property with comparable qualities as the subject property.
There are instances, however, that the property owner has a disproportionate tax burden for one reason or another. Your relatively middle-class home, for example, may be surrounded by flashier homes. Your property tax may then be higher than expected because of the neighborhood.
#2 Your Home Was Incorrectly Assessed
Unfortunately, property owners cannot provide the assessed values for their real property. This authority lies with the tax assessor’s office, an authority that covers both the assessed value and the fair market value for residential and commercial property.
There’s also the fact that the factors used in determining the assessed and fair market values are subjective in the sense that the tax assessor and his staff use professional judgment. There’s no hard-and-fast rule in this matter. The result is that many, if not most, real property will have higher assessed value than warranted.
You know what it means: You’ll be paying higher property tax. The good news is that you can take the appropriate measures to protest the over-assessment, and it starts as soon as you get your annual notice of assessment.
#3 Your Local Government Needs the Property Tax
For many local government units, their main source of revenue is property tax. This can become an issue for property owners because it means higher tax, an issue that can be worsened by the abovementioned factors.
Property owners can contest the tax levied on their real property obviously, even demand for tax reforms. In the short-term period, there are numerous ways to decrease the tax burden while waiting for these changes. These include checking the property record cards for the accuracy of entries and filing assessment appeals.
There are other factors, such as the growth of commerce and industry in the area, but these three are the more common causes. You should discuss these possible reasons with your tax consultant first before making any actions, tax-wise.
Conclusion
When it comes to property tax, it’s imperative to pay these levies promptly and properly since there are penalties for late payments, incorrect payments and non-payment. But you also have the right to ensure that you’re actually being levied the right amount, not over-paying your tax.
If you want to file a property tax appeal, you should contact Fair Assessments, LLC immediately! With its 30-year experience, you have the assurance that your appeal will be handled in your favor.
