Property Tax Lawyers in Dauphin County

The law of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania says that everyone who owns real property has to pay taxes on it. The term "real property" refers to land and buildings, as well as anything adhered to the land, like trees and natural resources.

The property tax in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 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.

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 Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Most often, property taxes in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania are simply a set percentage of the property's value. Across the country, state authorities impose a wide range of different 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%.

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

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

Consequently, the people in charge of appraising the value of property in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 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 used), and any improvements that have been made to the land, among other things.

How A Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania's property tax system is somewhat intricate. 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 are affected by one of these, or any other, property tax legal issues in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, you should deal with it properly. If you fail to do so, a relatively minor issue can become much more expensive and inconvenient than it might otherwise have been. Thus, the assistance of a knowledgeable tax attorney in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania is highly useful in avoiding these issues in the first place, or handling them if they do arise.