Property Tax Lawyers in Delaware County

The law of Delaware 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 attached to the land, like trees and natural resources.

The property tax in Delaware 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 - usually 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 Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Most often, property taxes in Delaware 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 Delaware County, Pennsylvania 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 usually 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.

With that in mind, the land appraisers in Delaware County, Pennsylvania look at various factors, including the state of the local real estate market, the square footage of the house, and the permissible use (zoning) of the land.

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

Delaware County, Pennsylvania's property tax system is somewhat complicated. 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 actually 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 Delaware County, Pennsylvania property taxes, failing to handle it properly can result in anything from unnecessary inconvenience to large fines and tax penalties. However, with the help of a Delaware County, Pennsylvania tax attorney, your chances of running into a property tax problem can be minimized.