Property Tax Lawyers in Erie County

Erie County, New York laws require that most owners of real property pay taxes on its value. "Real property" refers to building and land, and objects (like natural resources) that are permanently affixed to the land.

Erie County, New York measures property taxes simply by taking a percentage of the property's value. Typically, they are paid on a yearly or monthly basis.

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 Erie County, New York

Erie County, New York 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.

In order to impose this tax, the government of Erie County, New York first has to determine the taxable value of a piece of property.

As you probably know, value is not always objective. For instance, the owners of family heirlooms typically place far more value on them than their objective monetary value. So tax officials have to be careful to only use objective criteria in valuing property for tax purposes.

To that end, the Erie County, New York employees in charge of appraising land look at objective facts to measure value, like the size of the land and any buildings on it, the way in which the land may legally be used (zoning), and the health of the local real estate market.

How A Erie County, New York Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The property tax system in Erie County, New York can get pretty intricate. There are many reasons why you might run into a legal dispute regarding your property tax. For example, you may believe that the appraised value of your property was too high, increasing your tax burden unjustly. Or, the state might accuse you of failing to pay your property tax.

If you encounter a legal issue with your Erie County, New York property taxes, and don't handle it properly, unnecessary inconvenience and expense can result. If you have the assistance of a skilled tax attorney in Erie County, New York, however, the odds of encountering such a problem will be small.