Property Tax Lawyers in Aiken County

The law of Aiken County, South Carolina 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.

Property taxes in Aiken County, South Carolina are determined as a percentage of the appraised value of the property. Property taxes are paid to the state or local government at regular (usually yearly) intervals.

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 Aiken County, South Carolina

Normally, Aiken County, South Carolina property taxes are determined as a percentage of the property's value. Tax rates vary widely, but they usually run from less than 1% up to about 5%.

In order to levy this tax, the tax authorities in Aiken County, South Carolina must have an uniform formula for figuring out the value of a given piece of property.

As you probably know, value is not always objective. For instance, the owners of family heirlooms normally 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.

There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Typically, the appraiser in Aiken County, South Carolina 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 used (zoning).

How A Aiken County, South Carolina Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

Aiken County, South Carolina's property tax system is somewhat convoluted. 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 really have. Conversely, a homeowner might believe that the value of their property was appraised inaccurately, resulting in a higher tax bill.

If you are immersed in a property tax dispute with the tax authorities of Aiken County, South Carolina, you should seek the help of an Aiken County, South Carolina tax attorney. Your attorney can help you prevent a small tax problem from turning into something much bigger and more expensive than it needs to be.