Property Tax

[SPIKE]

The other morning a man came by gathering information for the purpose of revalueing property for tax purposes. I tried to converse with him a bit, but he was a very dry crusty old codger. I was not sure what to think about his comments and how the information he gathered would have been different had I not been there.
My property tax has not gone up in two years, so I was wondering when they would come by and see the property improvments.
My trailer is a 86 model and he had it as a 9? model. not much value on mobile homes any way.
When he saw the garden area, he asked when I started a nursery. I had to show him that it was only my food garden for the spring.
Property taxes are almost double if your property is used as a business.
He asked about my buildings on the property. When I told him I had only about $5000 in my 28x45 shop/garage, he said it did not matter. It would be taxed on its value and that he had a building built that cost him $20,000 and it was smaller than mine.
I guess it was good to know what my building was worth.

I can hardly wait for the next tax bill. NOT!!

SPIKE

[dearg]

Looks like the local taxing authorities are getting desperate all over. To bad they don't have to cut back like the rest of us when money is short. I was in the tax office a couple of weeks ago and it looked like a mob was forming!! There were a lot of mad people, one lady said she had her taxes triple in one year. As she told the person behind the glass, she was trying to sell her place and the Realtor appraisal was not anywhere near the tax appraisal. Tax Nazi behind the window said she didn't care what the realtor's numbers were they didn't mean a thing that she had to pay the taxes that were set by them..

Looks like there will be a lot of people protesting the increase.

[CarolAnn]

So many local governments got greedy (so what else is new) - but it caused them to turn a blind eye to all sorts of deceptive practices that caused our recently burst housing bubble. They choose whatever gets them more tax MONEY. And you can betcher sweet biffy that they will be blind again when the true property values go DOWN.

However, if enough people get angry enough, there IS something that can be done. Most places have statutes that require the property taxes to be based on a percentage TRUE market value. Now that the market is correcting itself back to something more normal, those taxing rascals are going to have to adjust also. It might take a bunch of neighbors banding together and getting a lawyer . . . that'll get their attention! Those folks work FOR you - your tax pays their salary. Don't let them forget it for an instant!

[Global_Gal]

A friend of mine in Richardson TX protested his property tax one year and asked for a re-evaluation. He got it too. He was told that very few protest tax hikes formally but if they would many times they are lowered.

[Bones]

In Tennessee the tax is set by the sale of properties. BUT state law says you cannot use Bank Sales as a basis you have to use actual sales. Shelby County (Memphis, TN) just had theirs revalue and almost all went up because all they have to go on are sales from the last two years and they cant count the foreclosures.
Our county did ours and ours did increase but I did challenge it. The only reason why it was lowered was because the had the sqft finished area was wrong. Inspectors were full of information and willing to talk to me. Found out it does not matter if a out building is on a skid or foundation it is taxed the same. So the playhouse will be torn down when the greenhouse goes up to keep my tax base the same

[onelook]

Our county re-evaluates each property every 3 years. I guess they divide the county into 3 areas and take a year to do each area.

I know of a family that built a new home in front of their old falling down house. The assesors office continued to include the old house on their tax bill. The family complained to no avail...'It is still a structure that can be used as storage or as a work shop, etc.' So...they tore it down and cleared off the spot that it sat on. Assesors came out and re-evaluated the property again...Their taxes went UP... It seems they improved their property by tearing down the old house. See- you can't win.

[epeterd1]

My wife's parents live on the same farm her grandparents lived on. Her parents house was assessed more than her grandparents', even though there is also a guest house and in-ground pool at the grandparents' house. Makes no sense at all.

[Backwoods_Bob]

Our county gives your land a look over every four years. Mostly.
Sometimes they just leave post cards on the gate 1/2 mile away. Fill out any improvements and send it in. Yeah right. ;)

'Bout two years back some feller drove a pickup real slow like up to our place and was a-looking around.

My wife didn't like that so she strapped on her gunbelt and went out to see what he was about.

Turned out to be the inspector. He got real respectfull like when he saw her sidearm. Kept staring at it in fact, and didn't get out of the truck. Left soon after.

Best bet is to keep everything out of sight of the road and keep the gate locked. The inspector can't go around gates.
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Or maybe just shoot the bastards. Since when can we onlt rent property in the U.S.? How did this mess get started and why do we put up with it?

[DavidOH]

Since when can we onlt rent property in the U.S.? How did this mess get started and why do we put up with it?

I've been wondering that myself.
I don't know of anywhere in the USA or Canada that you can live free without renting land from the government.
Does anyone? *??? * .......anyone , anywhere? *???

[Rimfire_Red]

DavidOH is right on. *All we do is rent. *

When we bought our place the appraiser came out and looked around. He measured a porch that was (and still is after 17 years) half falling off the "house" - (read remodeled grainery with addition). *He saw the '92 4x4 dually (this was in early '93) and asked where we worked. *Hubby asked what that had to do with the value of the property. *He said "I can find out you know!" So we started out paying double on 116 acres that the previous owner paid on 160. Now we really HAVE to side the place...it is shot. *After seeing the taxes on a new (and newly abandoned) house & shop on 20 acres down the road (they are almost my entire payment) I want to make my house more weather tight, but want it to look like Ellie Mae and Jethro could be on the porch! *Next time someone comes out BOTH tractors and good pickup will be gone. *Don't have to worry about all those expensive horses we bought....they are worthless!!! LOL