Burlingame, California Property Tax Law
In Burlingame, 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 Burlingame, California, property taxes are measured as a percentage of the land's value. They are most often paid annually. But in any case, they are paid at some set interval.
Generally, property taxes are not levied by the federal government. This applies to everywhere in the U.S.. Usually, property taxes are imposed by state and local governments.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Burlingame, California
Property tax in Burlingame, California almost always 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.
In order to levy this tax, the tax authorities in Burlingame, California must have a uniform formula for figuring out the value of a given piece of property.
Value is subjective in many respects. The home that you grew up in is probably worth more to you than its going market rate. So, to ensure that property taxes are fair and uniform, tax collectors have to use purely objective factors when appraising property.
There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Generally, the appraiser in Burlingame, 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).
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How A Burlingame, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
The system of levying property taxes in Burlingame, California 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 Burlingame, California, you should seek the advice of a Burlingame, California 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.