Foster City, California Property Tax Law
In Foster City, 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 Foster City, California, property taxes are measured as a percentage of the land's value. They are most commonly paid annually. But in any case, they are paid at some set interval.
Typically, property taxes are not levied by the federal government. This applies to everywhere in the U.S.. Normally, property taxes are imposed by state and local governments.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Foster City, California
Most often, property taxes in Foster City, 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 in a fair and consistent manner, Foster City, California tax authorities need to have an objective formula for determining the value of land under its jurisdiction.
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.
With that in mind, the land appraisers in Foster City, California look at several factors, including the state of the local real estate market, the square footage of the house, and the permissible use (zoning) of the land.
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How A Foster City, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
Foster City, California's property tax system is somewhat convoluted. 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 really have. Conversely, a homeowner might believe that the value of their property was appraised inaccurately, resulting in a higher tax bill.
If you are immersed in a property tax dispute with the tax authorities of Foster City, California, you should seek the help of a Foster City, 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.
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Life in Foster City
Foster City, California is a master-planned city situated in San Mateo County. It has a population of about 31,000 and is sometimes held to be part of Silicon Valley due to its local industry. Foster City is considered an affluent community and has been featured several times in Forbes Magazine as well as Money Magazine.As a master-planned city, Foster City offers many advantages and amenities, such as an efficient distribution of stores, restaurants, and resources. Master planning helps developers avoid "haphazard" construction and city layout. This has contributed to much of Foster's City's clean and pristine appearance. Foster City is also home to a number of attractions, including a boardwalk, a 9-hole golf course, an extensive $4 million Teen Activities Center, and a public amphitheater. Windsurfing is extremely popular within city limits.
Foster City, California is also known for being an important center for many high-tech companies as well as financial organizations. The city is headquarters to many nationally recognized businesses such as Adchemy, Gilead Sciences, Life Technologies, Live365, Philips, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and many others. One can access several points in the Bay Area from Foster City due to its location near the San Mateo Bridge.
Lawyers in Foster City, California often represent their clients at the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo. The court house has integrated much new technology including an electronic document camera. Foster City attorneys are available for assistance in many different fields of law.