Property Tax Lawyers in Redwood City
In Redwood City, 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 Redwood 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.
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 Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California property taxes are normally calculated as a percentage of the value of the taxable property. Rates differentiate widely across the country, normally ranging from less than 1% at the low end, to about 5% at the high end.
To collect the property tax, the authorities of Redwood City, California have to first decide the value of an individual piece of land.
Value, in some ways, is not an objective thing. For instance, your childhood home is likely worth much more to you than its simple market value. Nonetheless, the tax authorities use only objective factors in calculating a home's taxable value.
There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Typically, the appraiser in Redwood City, 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 Redwood City, California Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
The system of levying property taxes in Redwood City, California can get very intricate. Disagreements about property taxes, between the taxpayer and the tax authorities, can come up in many different ways. A taxpayer may believe that an error was made in calculating their property's taxable value, resulting in bigger tax bill. Furthermore, 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 immersed in a property tax dispute with the tax authorities of Redwood City, California, you should seek the help of a Redwood 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.