No one wants to think about property 税. But understanding your rights and responsibilities can ensure you pay no more than your fair share. Here are some aspects of property 税 to keep in mind:

Your Tax Bill May Differ From Previous Owners’ and Current Neighbors’ Tax Bills

You might try to gauge your future tax bill on what previous owners or current neighbors paid, but your bill could be significantly higher. Those others may qualify for exemptions you don’t meet, such as ones for homeowners aged 65 or older or 残疾业主. 也, their property 税 may have been kept in check with a homestead exemption that provides a 10%-per-year cap on increases in the appraised value. Once ownership changes on the home, though, the assessed value may jump substantially.

Make Sure You Apply for Exemptions and Special Uses

豁免会降低你的应税价值. A lower taxable value means your tax bill will be lower than if you don’t have exemptions. 但是你必须申请. A house you use as your principal residence qualifies for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property and caps the amount your taxable value can go up each year. There are exemptions for homeowners 65 or older, 残疾业主, 伤残退伍军人的房主, 和其他人. Some farm and ranch properties qualify to be appraised based on agricultural uses, which often is lower than the market value of the land.

Think Your Appraisal is not Accurate?

If you believe the appraisal district appraised your home incorrectly, you can protest. Many districts have an option to try to settle a protest informally prior to a formal hearing. If the formal hearing with the appraisal review board does not go your way, you may be able to appeal the decision to state district court, 独立仲裁员, or to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Information about the property tax process, exemptions, and protests can be found on the 德州主计官网站 and on many county appraisal district websites.

德州2021十大正规彩票app经纪人® works to fight for laws that make property 税 fairer and more transparent. To learn more about property 税, visit knowyour税.org.