Property Tax Lawyers in Novato

In Novato, California, the government imposes a tax (a legally-mandated payment made to the government) on real property. "Real property" is specified as any piece of land, or object permanently or semi-permanently attached to the land (such as buildings, trees, minerals, etc.).

In Novato, 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.

The federal government almost never imposes property taxes directly. Property taxes are gathered nearly always by state, county, and local governments.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Novato, California

Property tax in Novato, California almost exclusively 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.

To collect the property tax in a fair and consistent manner, Novato, California tax authorities need to have an objective formula for deciding the value of land under its jurisdiction.

Value is subjective in many respects. The home that you grew up in is likely 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 Novato, 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 utilized (zoning).

How A Novato, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Novato, California can get very perplexing. Disagreements 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 encounter a legal issue with your Novato, California property taxes, and don't handle it properly, unnecessary inconvenience and expense can result. If you have the advice of a competent tax attorney in Novato, California, however, the odds of encountering such a problem will be small.