Property Tax Lawyers in Lakewood
In Lakewood, Colorado, 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 affixed to the land (such as buildings, trees, minerals, etc.).
In Lakewood, Colorado, property taxes are measured as a percentage of the land's value. They are most frequently paid annually. But in any case, they are paid at some set interval.
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 Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado property taxes are typically calculated as a percentage of the value of the taxable property. Rates vary widely across the country, typically ranging from less than 1% at the low end, to about 5% at the high end.
To collect the property tax, the authorities of Lakewood, Colorado have to first determine the value of a specific piece of land.
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.
Consequently, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in Lakewood, Colorado have to consider only objective, factual criteria when calculating the value of a piece of land. These criteria include the state of the real estate market, the zoning of the land (which determines how it can be used), and any improvements that have been made to the land, among other things.
How A Lakewood, Colorado Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
Property tax law in Lakewood, Colorado is not always simple. Legal disagreements about property taxes can arise from almost any situation. For instance, you might have reason to suspect that the taxable value of your home was overestimated, creating a bigger property tax bill. And, the government might claim that you have underpaid your property taxes, while you think that you have paid the correct amount.
If you are affected by one of these, or any other, property tax legal issues in Lakewood, Colorado, 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 Lakewood, Colorado is highly useful in avoiding these issues in the first place, or handling them if they do arise.