Property Tax Lawyers in Bakersfield
In Bakersfield, 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.).
Property taxes in Bakersfield, California are measured 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 Bakersfield, California
Most often, property taxes in Bakersfield, California 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 collect the property tax, the authorities of Bakersfield, California have to first determine the value of a specific piece of land.
As you probably know, value is not always objective. For instance, the owners of family heirlooms typically place far more value on them than their objective monetary value. So tax officials have to be careful to only use objective criteria in valuing property for tax purposes.
There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Usually, the appraiser in Bakersfield, California 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 used (zoning).
How A Bakersfield, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
Bakersfield, California's property tax system is somewhat intricate. Legal disputes arising from property taxes can arise in a number of ways. For instance, the state might accuse a homeowner of failing to pay their property taxes, when they truly have. Conversely, a homeowner might believe that the value of their property was appraised inaccurately, resulting in a higher tax bill.
If you are affected by one of these, or any other, property tax legal issues in Bakersfield, California, you should deal with it properly. If you fail to do so, a relatively minor issue can become much more expensive and inconvenient than it might otherwise have been. Thus, the assistance of a knowledgeable tax attorney in Bakersfield, California is highly useful in avoiding these issues in the first place, or handling them if they do arise.