Property Tax Lawyers in Snohomish County

Laws of Snohomish County, Washington 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 attached to the land.

The property tax in Snohomish County, Washington is simply a percentage of a piece of property's appraised value, paid to the state and/or local government on a periodic - normally annual - basis.

The federal government almost never imposes property taxes directly. Property taxes are collected nearly exclusively by state, county, and local governments.

How Property Tax is Calculated in Snohomish County, Washington

Normally, Snohomish County, Washington 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%.

To collect the property tax in a fair and consistent manner, Snohomish County, Washington tax authorities need to have an objective formula for determining the value of land under its jurisdiction.

Value, in some ways, is not an objective thing. For example, your childhood home is probably worth much more to you than its simple market value. However, the tax authorities use only objective factors in calculating a home's taxable value.

There are many different ways to value property using objective factors. Typically, the appraiser in Snohomish County, Washington 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 Snohomish County, Washington Property Tax Attorney Can Help.

Snohomish County, Washington'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 Snohomish County, Washington, you should seek the help of a Snohomish County, Washington 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.