Property Tax Lawyers in Harlingen
The law of Harlingen, Texas 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.
Property tax in Harlingen, Texas is derived by taking a percentage of the appraised value of the property in question. They are typically collected on an annual or monthly schedule.
In general, the federal government does not impose any property tax. Normally, property tax is imposed by state, county, and municipal governments.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen, Texas property taxes are typically calculated as a percentage of the value of the taxable property. Rates vary widely across the country, typically ranging from less than 1% at the low end, to about 5% at the high end.
To collect the property tax in a fair and consistent manner, Harlingen, Texas tax authorities need to have an objective formula for determining the value of land under its jurisdiction.
In some ways, value is a subjective thing. For example, the home in which you grew up is probably worth far more to you than its market value. To get around this, the government uses nothing but objective factors in determining how much a piece of real property is worth.
To this end, the Harlingen, Texas appraiser will look at things like the state of the real estate market, the size of the land, the presence of additions to the land such as buildings, and the way in which the property is zoned.
How A Harlingen, Texas Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
Property tax law in Harlingen, Texas is not always simple. Legal disagreements about property taxes can arise from almost any situation. For instance, you might have reason to suspect that the taxable value of your home was overestimated, creating a bigger property tax bill. And, the government might claim that you have underpaid your property taxes, while you think that you have paid the correct amount.
If you are affected by one of these, or any other, property tax legal issues in Harlingen, Texas, 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 Harlingen, Texas is highly useful in avoiding these issues in the first place, or handling them if they do arise.