Property Tax Lawyers in South Portland

The government of South Portland, Maine requires most individuals who own real property to pay taxes on its value. "Real property" refers to land and buildings, as well as anything else which is permanently affixed to a piece of land, including trees, oil, groundwater, minerals, and the like.

South Portland, Maine derives property taxes simply by taking a percentage of the property's value. Usually, they are paid on a yearly or monthly basis.

Federal authorities do not gather a property tax. Only state and local governments gather property taxes, as a general matter.

How Property Tax is Calculated in South Portland, Maine

Property tax in South Portland, Maine 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.

In order to levy this tax, the tax authorities in South Portland, Maine must have an uniform formula for figuring out the value of a particular piece of property.

In many ways, the value of a piece of land is relative. After all, many individuals ascribe sentimental value to their homes, which goes well beyond its market value. To guarantee that the system is equal, the government uses only objective standards to determine value.

Therefore, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in South Portland, Maine 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 utilized), and any improvements that have been made to the land, among other things.

How A South Portland, Maine Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

Property tax law in South Portland, Maine is not always simple. Legal disagreements about property taxes can arise from almost any case. For example, 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 relevant amount.

If you are affected by one of these, or any other, property tax legal issues in South Portland, Maine, you should deal with it correctly. If you fail to do so, a relatively minor issue can become much more costly and inconvenient than it might otherwise have been. So, the assistance of a reputable tax attorney in South Portland, Maine is highly useful in avoiding these issues in the first place, or handling them if they do arise.