Protesting your property taxes

[Springfield Chicken]

Now that we've all gotten our estimates on our property taxes it's decision time.  Either take what they give you or protest it.  Once the Property Appraiser mails TRIM notices you have 25 days to file petitions â€" 8/18/10 through 9/13/10.

I was going to protest mine but when I called I spoke to a very helpful person who gave me the information on which they based my value.  Once I looked at what they used I decided it was pretty fair and I'll live with it.  But I have seen others that certainly should be contested.  Just be sure you use sales from 2009.

[buckethead]

I am morally opposed to property taxes. Pile on if you will...

If I own property why should I make perpetual lease payments for it to a local or state municipality?

If I own it I do not owe anyone money for the right to remain there.

How many properties are lost each year to governments due to back taxes? Clearly those people did not own "their" properties.

[cline]

I am morally opposed to property taxes. Pile on if you will...

If I own property why should I make perpetual lease payments for it to a local or state municipality?

If I own it I do not owe anyone money for the right to remain there.

How many properties are lost each year to governments due to back taxes? Clearly those people did not own "their" properties.

So you don't think you should have to pay for police and fire protection?

[buckethead]

Did I say that?

I think it should be paid for with taxation, but a different method of taxation.

Should my Grandmother lose her home of 53 years due to the fact that she is on a fixed income and in poor health which has exhausted her financially?

She "owns" her property outright. Why should she need to make lease payments to the city/county/state?

[BridgeTroll]

But... I thought we werent paying enough in taxes.  The general direction of tax related convos here tend toward more taxation... not less.  Dont worry... with values dropping we should be paying less soon enough...

[iluvolives]

I'm considering protesting- I just bought my house and had multiple appraisals done and my property taxes are 140K more than what I paid. The house I bought was not bank owned, in foreclosure or a shortsale. I went on the COJ website but wasn't clear on how to go about the process.

[Springfield Chicken]

You start by filling out the form on the site requesting a protest and paying $15.  You will get to make your case in person but you will need all the documentation to support your protest when you go.  Since taxes are paid in arrears, your 2010 taxes are based on 2009 sales.  So it doesn't matter what yours sold for unless it was VERY early in 2010.  So look for comparable sales in 2009 that are NOT short sales or foreclosures.  The realtor who sold you the home should be able to help with that.

[uptowngirl]

I am morally opposed to property taxes. Pile on if you will...

If I own property why should I make perpetual lease payments for it to a local or state municipality?

If I own it I do not owe anyone money for the right to remain there.

How many properties are lost each year to governments due to back taxes? Clearly those people did not own "their" properties.

So you don't think you should have to pay for police and fire protection?

A higher sales tax to cover public services including schools , would ensure everyone paid their fair share-  Bucket is right we have to lease the right to "own" property from the govt, similar to how we used to have to pay a monarch (who represented are wishes about as well as the city/state/Federal government does today!)

[tufsu1]

Should my Grandmother lose her home of 53 years due to the fact that she is on a fixed income and in poor health which has exhausted her financially?

that's why Floridians voted for the homestead exemption and Save Our Homes...which caps the taxable value increase at no more than 3% a year.

[buckethead]

I am morally opposed to property taxes. Pile on if you will...

If I own property why should I make perpetual lease payments for it to a local or state municipality?

If I own it I do not owe anyone money for the right to remain there.

How many properties are lost each year to governments due to back taxes? Clearly those people did not own "their" properties.

So you don't think you should have to pay for police and fire protection?

A higher sales tax to cover public services including schools , would ensure everyone paid their fair share-  Bucket is right we have to lease the right to "own" property from the govt, similar to how we used to have to pay a monarch (who represented are wishes about as well as the city/state/Federal government does today!)

Except that we Floridians voted on this issue in 1936, and decided that Property Taxes were more fair than Income Taxes.   We wrote it into our Constitution, and to this day it is not legal to institute a state income tax without a constitutional amendment.  We also decided that the property tax was a better alternative to a high estate tax, and therefore Florida has the best estate taxes, no income tax, and most forms of sales taxes have never been allowed Constitutionally.  There are Counties with almost no property tax, you know.  But if you want to live in cities, you have to pay for it.

Funny. I consider income taxation immoral as well.

As for the story, it isn't my grandmother, but it is someone's grandmother. I don't feel I will convince those who disagree with me. Some never met a tax they didn't like.

I am also not saying citizens shouldn't be taxed. Taxation is necessary. A tax on consumption is the fairest way to perform the function.

JMHO

[buckethead]

Florida currently has no income tax. A sales tax is done at the state and local level.

It's already working. Simply convert those same dollars received in property taxes into sales tax.

New construction and real estate transactions should be subjected to the sales tax as well. (Building materials as well as finished product.)

I would not even be opposed to an exemption to the level of poverty. As far as having been tried, I don't believe it has in terms of an exclusive means of taxation.

[buckethead]

What effect does property taxation have on sprawl? It occurs to me that property taxation encourages sprawl due to the fact that more rural properties are taxed at a lower rate.

[buckethead]

Collected locally just like municipal sales taxes are today.

[buckethead]

From retailers. That would be the majority of the taxation.

There would need to be a system put in place to tax real estate transactions. Any retailer needs to have an occupational license and a tax ID.  Make it the same for real estate agents. For individuals selling outside of agents/MLS it could be required to be collected by a title company.

Let's be honest here. I am an under-educated simpleton. So far, I have addressed each issue you have brought up. If I can figure these issues out, how much better could municipalities get a system in place? Most of the mechanisms are already in place.

[buckethead]

From retailers. That would be the majority of the taxation.

There would need to be a system put in place to tax real estate transactions. Any retailer needs to have an occupational license and a tax ID.  Make it the same for real estate agents. For individuals selling outside of agents/MLS it could be required to be collected by a title company.

Let's be honest here. I am an under-educated simpleton. So far, I have addressed each issue you have brought up. If I can figure these issues out, how much better could municipalities get a system in place? Most of the mechanisms are already in place.

Why would retailers fairly held responsible for domestic abuse or the education of other people's children? or if someone's house were burning down?

Retailers are not held responsible. Consumers are. Retailers would simply provide the vehicle for collection. A small percentage could be added to compensate retailers for DOING WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY COMPELLED TO DO.