Property Tax Lawyers in Athens

In Athens, Alabama, 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 affixed to the land (such as buildings, trees, minerals, etc.).

Property taxes in Athens, Alabama are measured as a percentage of the appraised value of the property. Property taxes are paid to the state or local government at regular (often yearly) intervals.

Typically, the federal government does not collect property taxes anywhere in the U.S. Property taxes are collected almost exclusively by state and local authorities.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Athens, Alabama

Most often, property taxes in Athens, Alabama are simply a set percentage of the property's value. Across the country, state authorities impose a wide range of different tax rates. The highest rates in the country are in the area of 5% of the property's value, and the lowest are less than 1%.

To levy this tax, Athens, Alabama tax authorities must first figure out how much a house or piece of land is worth.

In some ways, value is a subjective thing. For example, the home in which you grew up is probably worth far more to you than its market value. To get around this, the government uses nothing but objective factors in determining how much a piece of real property is worth.

Consequently, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in Athens, Alabama 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 Athens, Alabama Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Athens, Alabama 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 one of these concerns affects you and your property in Athens, Alabama, you should make every effort to properly handle it. This can prevent small issues from growing into large ones. The best way to do this is to seek the advice of a knowledgeable Athens, Alabama tax attorney who specializes in property tax law.