Taxes Too High?
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Property Tax Basics

My taxes are too *#@!$! high! What can I do?

To reduce your property taxes, you must know your rights, understand the remedies available to you, and fulfill your responsibilities. A basic understanding of how the process works is incumbent on each of us.

You  should also understand who the Parties are that can affect you property tax. Some of the parties are explained here.

How much property tax you pay is determined by 3 things:
  1. The Taxable Value of the property
  2. Your exemptions, if any
  3. The Tax Rate.

The Value is established by the Appraisal District. This is the focus of the primary attack.  We may be able to help you reduce your market value, which may reduce your taxes!

Exemptions reduce the CAD value, and that reduces the tax. Exemptions are given to people and some to the land. People exemptions are the homestead exemption, the elderly, veterans disability and a few others. Property exemptions may be agriculture, timber, public use, historical property, and many more. The one that affect most homeowners is the homestead and elderly exemptions.

The Tax Rates are established by the Board of Directors of each taxing unit. An increase is normally preceded by a Notice of Public Hearing. You must attend this hearing of the taxing units' honchos concerning the hike. Your chances of influencing their decision is slim-to-none. Normally, enough trial balloons have been launched so that the outcome is pre-determined. The "tax rate" train has already started and does not stop!