Property Tax Lawyers in Traverse City

The government of Traverse City, Michigan 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 fixed to a piece of land, including trees, oil, groundwater, minerals, and the like.

Property tax in Traverse City, Michigan is calculated by taking a percentage of the appraised value of the property in question. They are normally collected on an annual or monthly schedule.

In general, the federal government does not impose any property tax. Usually, property tax is imposed by state, county, and municipal governments.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Traverse City, Michigan

Most often, property taxes in Traverse City, Michigan are simply a set percentage of the property's value. Across the country, state authorities impose a wide range of various 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, Traverse City, Michigan 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. Therefore, 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. Typically, the appraiser in Traverse City, Michigan 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 Traverse City, Michigan Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Traverse City, Michigan 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 one of these contentions affects you and your property in Traverse City, Michigan, you should make every effort to correctly handle it. This can keep small issues from growing into large ones. The best way to do this is to seek the advice of a seasoned Traverse City, Michigan tax attorney who concentrates in property tax law.