Property Tax Lawyers in Charlottesville
Laws of Charlottesville, Virginia require all property owners to pay a tax on the value of their property. Property taxes only apply to real property (as opposed to personal property). This includes land, buildings, and assets that are permanently or semi-permanently adhered to the land.
The property tax in Charlottesville, Virginia 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.
Usually, property taxes are not levied by the federal government. This applies to everywhere in the U.S.. Typically, property taxes are imposed by state and local governments.
How Property Tax is Calculated in Charlottesville, Virginia
Typically, Charlottesville, Virginia property taxes are determined as a percentage of the property's value. Tax rates vary widely, but they normally run from less than 1% up to about 5%.
To collect the property tax in a fair and consistent manner, Charlottesville, Virginia tax authorities need to have an objective formula for determining the value of land under its jurisdiction.
Value is subjective in many respects. The home that you grew up in is probably worth more to you than its going market rate. Thus, 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. Usually, the appraiser in Charlottesville, Virginia 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 Charlottesville, Virginia Property Tax Attorney Can Help.
The system of levying property taxes in Charlottesville, Virginia can get fairly confusing. Disputes about property taxes, between the taxpayer and the tax authorities, can come up in various different ways. A taxpayer may believe that an error was made in calculating their property's taxable value, resulting in bigger tax bill. Additionally, 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 concerns affects you and your property in Charlottesville, Virginia, you should make every effort to properly handle it. This can prevent small issues from growing into large ones. The best way to do this is to seek the advice of a knowledgeable Charlottesville, Virginia tax attorney who specializes in property tax law.