Property Tax Lawyers in Portland
The law of Portland, Oregon says that everybody who owns real property has to pay taxes on it. The term "real property" refers to land and buildings, as well as anything affixed to the land, like trees and natural resources.
The property tax in Portland, Oregon is simply a percentage of a piece of property's appraised value, paid to the state and/or local government on a periodic - typically annual - basis.
Typically, the federal government does not collect property taxes anywhere in the U.S. Property taxes are gathered almost always by state and local authorities.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon calculates its property taxes by requiring property owners to pay a set percentage of the appraised value. While the property tax rate varies considerably across different parts of the country, they fall into the 1-5% range.
To levy this tax, Portland, Oregon tax authorities must initially figure out how much a house or piece of land is worth.
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.
Consequently, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in Portland, Oregon 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 Portland, Oregon Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
Portland, Oregon's property tax system is somewhat confusing. Legal disputes arising from property taxes can arise in a number of ways. For instance, the state might accuse a homeowner of failing to pay their property taxes, when they truly have. Conversely, a homeowner might believe that the value of their property was appraised inaccurately, resulting in a higher tax bill.
If you run into any issue with your Portland, Oregon property taxes, failing to handle it properly can result in anything from unnecessary inconvenience to considerable fines and tax penalties. However, with the help of a Portland, Oregon tax attorney, your chances of running into a property tax problem can be minimized.