Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Property Tax Rates


Taxes are the worst. But, for the most part, they’re pretty much inescapable This includes property taxes. What you might not know, however, is that property taxes do vary from state to state, and some states are significantly more reasonable in this area than others.   


Understanding Property Taxes

First, it’s important to understand how property taxes work. Typically, they are a percentage of the property’s value. Thus, the more your property is worth, the more you’re likely to pay. However, each state’s individual property tax rate also comes into play.

The States with the Lowest Property Tax Rates

If you want to buy a high-value piece of property, your best bet is to buy it in one of these states, which boast the lowest property tax rates in the country:

l  Louisiana
l  New Mexico
l  Hawaii
l  Mississippi
l  Alabama
l  Arkansas
l  Delaware
l  South Carolina
l  District of Columbia
l  West Virginia

Out of all of these low-tax states, the best bet is Louisiana, which has the country’s lowest property tax at 0.18%. The highest tax rate in this list is owed to New Mexico, at a 0.55% rate.

The States with the Highest Property Tax Rates

If you’re not lucky enough to find property in one of the above states, do your best to avoid the states at the other end of the spectrum- the ones with the highest property tax rates.

These include:

l  New Jersey
l  North Dakota
l  New Hampshire
l  Vermont
l  Texas
l  Michigan
l  Nebraska
l  Connecticut
l  Wisconsin
l  Illinois

The worst in this bunch is New Jersey, with a 1.89% tax rate, while the “best” is North Dakota, at a 1.42% tax rate- still pretty high!

Ultimately, you probably cannot realistically base your decision about where to buy property based on tax rates. But, if you do have some leeway, it’s a good idea to go with states with lower rates when possible. If you can’t do that, then work with a tax advisor to find exemptions and helpful tips where you can so that, hopefully, you don’t end up totally drowning in property taxes.

No comments:

Post a Comment

I welcome your comments here :)