Property Tax Lawyers in Surprise
In Surprise, Arizona, 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.).
Property taxes in Surprise, Arizona are calculated as a percentage of the appraised value of the property. Property taxes are paid to the state or local government at regular (usually yearly) intervals.
Federal authorities do not collect a property tax. Only state and local governments collect property taxes, as a general matter.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Surprise, Arizona
Most often, property taxes in Surprise, Arizona 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, Surprise, Arizona 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.
To that end, the Surprise, Arizona employees in charge of appraising land look at objective facts to calculate value, like the size of the land and any buildings on it, the way in which the land may legally be used (zoning), and the health of the local real estate market.
How A Surprise, Arizona Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
The system of levying property taxes in Surprise, Arizona can get fairly complex. Disputes about property taxes, between the taxpayer and the tax authorities, can come up in several different ways. A taxpayer may believe that an error was made in calculating their property's taxable value, resulting in bigger tax bill. Also, the state or city government might allege that you have failed to pay your property taxes, while you believe that you have.
If you are involved in a property tax dispute with the tax authorities of Surprise, Arizona, you should seek the advice of a Surprise, Arizona tax attorney. Your attorney can help you prevent a small tax problem from turning into something much bigger and more expensive than it needs to be.