Why are there property taxes?

[777]

If would appreciate it if someone could explain the reasons for property taxes besides tax revenue. I would think that once I have bought something I should not need to be paying taxes on it maybe for the rest of my life. Because of property taxes you will always owe money on your house so it does not seem that it'll ever be yours.

Thank you

 

[IceEyes]

There seems to be no reason for this tax, other than that people who owns a house also might afford to pay a little more tax. There are no costs for the government linked to the fact that some people has bought their own place to live? Municipal services like garbage collection and snow maintenance is paid fulle by houseowners.

In Sweden the property tax is 1% anually of the propertys value. The value is calculated from recent buys in the area and the size of the house. Other strange attributes also counts, like if you have 3 pane windows or if you have the stove in the center of the kitchen, - wich add "points" to the value. A normal house in Stockholm would then cost about $2000 every year in taxes.

How much do you pay?

 

[Nienna]

My father-in-law goes nuts over this. He is now retired, has worked all his life to pay off his mortgage, but yet, the government could come take it away if he doesn't pay the taxes.

I think a lot of property taxes go to the school district, at least in this area. We have a village income tax that is used for road repairs, etc. Although I have never seen what the "etc." is exactly.

 

[KarlMarx]

I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but here in the great State of New York property taxes are used to pay for the local school district's expenses (i.e. my "property tax"). In addition, I'm obliged to pay a Village tax and a Town and County tax. Those taxes are used to pay for expenses of the village and town/county where I live.

I often wondered about property tax myself (i.e. the "school tax"). First of all, school districts aren't governments, secondly, I am obliged to pay them regardless of whether I have children currently enrolled in school or not. If I don't pay them, then I can have my house seized by the authorities.

Considering the sad state of public schools and how, sometimes, the manner in which they teach my kids (which is another strange thing, being divorced, my children go to another school district, but I don't pay taxes to that school district, only to the one I live in!).... it's a rip off.

School vouchers is the way to go. And get rid of the Department of Education!

 

[dilloduck]

I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but here in the great State of New York property taxes are used to pay for the local school district's expenses (i.e. my "property tax"). In addition, I'm obliged to pay a Village tax and a Town and County tax. Those taxes are used to pay for expenses of the village and town/county where I live.

I often wondered about property tax myself (i.e. the "school tax"). First of all, school districts aren't governments, secondly, I am obliged to pay them regardless of whether I have children currently enrolled in school or not. If I don't pay them, then I can have my house seized by the authorities.

Considering the sad state of public schools and how, sometimes, the manner in which they teach my kids (which is another strange thing, being divorced, my children go to another school district, but I don't pay taxes to that school district, only to the one I live in!).... it's a rip off.

School vouchers is the way to go. And get rid of the Department of Education!

Simply put-----you never can pay off you're property---you rent it form the govt. no matter what your lien says. After you die, your heirs start paying even MORE for it because it has increases in value.

 

[insein]

Simply put-----you never can pay off you're property---you rent it form the govt. no matter what your lien says. After you die, your heirs start paying even MORE for it because it has increases in value.

Which is completely against everything the founding fathers stood for. The right to OWN Property is in the constitution. Not the right to lease it from the government.

Just another law people said "thats a good idea cause its for the children" and now regret it because the its not all for the children and the schools are usuall f'ed up anyway.

 

[dilloduck]

Which is completely against everything the founding fathers stood for. The right to OWN Property is in the constitution. Not the right to lease it from the government.

Just another law people said "thats a good idea cause its for the children" and now regret it because the its not all for the children and the schools are usuall f'ed up anyway.

This is exactly how farmers are getting screwed. My grandparents homesteaded land in South Dakota so essentially got the land for free as long as they worked the land and stuck a house on. When they died can you imagine how much that land had appreciated?? Taxes had to be paid on what that land is worth today. It's fancy stealing--plain and simple.

 

[Merlin]

Theres no property tax in La. on the first $75,000.00 of your house. If you own another piece of property that is not attached to the one you live on, there is a tax on it no matter the worth.

 

[Shattered]

Property taxes in my neighborhood are to the tune of $3600 a year.. I don't even have kids, so I don't use their dumb schools (which aren't pumping out any brighter students for all the money they get). Wonder where the rest of it goes..

 

[KarlMarx]

Which is completely against everything the founding fathers stood for. The right to OWN Property is in the constitution. Not the right to lease it from the government.

Just another law people said "thats a good idea cause its for the children" and now regret it because the its not all for the children and the schools are usuall f'ed up anyway.

The right to property an essential part of democracy and anathema to communism and socialism

 

[dilloduck]

The right to property an essential part of democracy and anathema to communism and socialism

True--but for our govt to finance itself it taxes things that we must own to guarantee an income. I think only food has escaped so far. Addicts are a great target for taxation!

 

[5stringJeff]

There have been property taxes for as long as this nation as existed - and then some.

 

[manu1959]

property taxes pay for a lot of the servcies (schoolls, police, fire, library, parks, roads etc...) that the local and state agencies provide to the residents....or you could live in a no property tax town like i do (pay state but no local)

 

[Shattered]

property taxes pay for a lot of the servcies (schoolls, police, fire, library, parks, roads etc...) that the local and state agencies provide to the residents....or you could live in a no property tax town like i do (pay state but no local)

We have approx. 12 police cars, 2 schools, 2 firetrucks, 1 park, and a bunch of shitty roads in dire need of repair.. Just the 4 houses on my half of the block alone get the city over $12000 a year.. Where's the money going?

 

[manu1959]

We have approx. 12 police cars, 2 schools, 2 firetrucks, 1 park, and a bunch of shitty roads in dire need of repair.. Just the 4 houses on my half of the block alone get the city over $12000 a year.. Where's the money going?

well you can actually go and ask for a copy of the city budget and see for yourself

 

[green lantern]

schools, parks, roads, community upkeep in general. property taxes fund all those things we take for granted. include police and fire department services in that list as well.

 

[MtnBiker]

schools, parks, roads, community upkeep in general. property taxes fund all those things we take for granted. include police and fire department services in that list as well.

Don't forget sales tax, gasoline tax, cigarette tax, alcohol tax, automobile licensing, ect....