Property Tax Lawyers in Columbia

The law of Columbia, Pennsylvania 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 fixed to the land, like trees and natural resources.

The property tax in Columbia, Pennsylvania is simply a percentage of a piece of property's appraised value, paid to the state and/or local government on a periodic - normally annual - 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 Columbia, Pennsylvania

Normally, Columbia, Pennsylvania property taxes are decided as a percentage of the property's value. Tax rates differentiate widely, but they usually run from less than 1% up to about 5%.

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

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 Columbia, Pennsylvania 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 Columbia, Pennsylvania Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

The system of levying property taxes in Columbia, Pennsylvania 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 Columbia, Pennsylvania, 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 Columbia, Pennsylvania tax attorney who concentrates in property tax law.