Property Tax Lawyers in Lewiston

The government of Lewiston, Maine requires most individuals who own real property to pay taxes on its value. "Real property" refers to land and buildings, as well as anything else which is permanently affixed to a piece of land, including trees, oil, groundwater, minerals, and the like.

Lewiston, Maine derives property taxes simply by taking a percentage of the property's value. Normally, they are paid on a yearly or monthly basis.

Federal authorities do not gather a property tax. Only state and local governments gather property taxes, as a general matter.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Lewiston, Maine

Property tax in Lewiston, Maine almost exclusively takes the form of a tax levied on the appraised value of the property in question. Property tax rates in the U.S. range from 0.2% to around 5% of the property's value.

To levy this tax, Lewiston, Maine tax authorities must initially figure out how much a house or piece of land is worth.

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

There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Typically, the appraiser in Lewiston, Maine will consider the current state of the real estate market, the size of the property, any improvements (buildings, roads, etc.) that have been made on the property, and the manner in which the property may be legally utilized (zoning).

How A Lewiston, Maine Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Lewiston, Maine can get very intricate. Disagreements about property taxes, between the taxpayer and the tax authorities, can come up in many different ways. A taxpayer may believe that an error was made in calculating their property's taxable value, resulting in bigger tax bill. Furthermore, 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 Lewiston, Maine property taxes, and don't handle it properly, unnecessary inconvenience and expense can result. If you have the guidance of a qualified tax attorney in Lewiston, Maine, however, the odds of encountering such a problem will be small.