Property Tax Lawyers in Larkspur

In Larkspur, California, the government imposes a tax (a legally-mandated payment made to the government) on real property. "Real property" is defined as any piece of land, or object permanently or semi-permanently adhered to the land (such as buildings, trees, minerals, etc.).

In Larkspur, California, property taxes are measured as a percentage of the land's value. They are most frequently paid annually. But in any case, they are paid at some set interval.

Usually, property taxes are not levied by the federal government. This applies to everywhere in the U.S.. Typically, property taxes are imposed by state and local governments.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Larkspur, California

Larkspur, California calculates its property taxes by requiring property owners to pay a set percentage of the appraised value. While the property tax rate varies considerably across different parts of the country, they fall into the 1-5% range.

To collect the property tax, the authorities of Larkspur, California have to first determine the value of a specific piece of land.

Value, in some ways, is not an objective thing. For example, your childhood home is probably worth much more to you than its simple market value. However, the tax authorities use only objective factors in calculating a home's taxable value.

Consequently, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in Larkspur, California have to consider only objective, factual criteria when calculating the value of a piece of land. These criteria include the state of the real estate market, the zoning of the land (which determines how it can be used), and any improvements that have been made to the land, among other things.

How A Larkspur, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Larkspur, California can get fairly confusing. Disputes about property taxes, between the taxpayer and the tax authorities, can come up in various different ways. A taxpayer may believe that an error was made in calculating their property's taxable value, resulting in bigger tax bill. Additionally, the state or city government might allege that you have failed to pay your property taxes, while you believe that you have.

If you encounter a legal issue with your Larkspur, California property taxes, and don't handle it properly, unnecessary inconvenience and expense can result. If you have the help of a skilled tax attorney in Larkspur, California, however, the odds of encountering such a problem will be small.