3 Ways You Can Work To Reduce Your Property Taxes Without Spending Any Money In The Process
Paying property taxes is a must for all homeowners. However, while you may not be able to escape the need to pay taxes altogether, you should know that it is often possible to reduce property taxes by investing nothing more than a bit of your time. Read on to learn more about three of the ways in which you are able to accomplish this goal.
Take The Time To Check Your Property Information With The County Clerk's Office
The property clerk's office for your local county will maintain records regarding all properties located within its borders. These records include things like the number of structures that are located on the property, the total square footage of the property, the amount of livable space, any upgrades that have been made to the property, and any active permits that have been issued for the property. Over the course of time, these records can become inaccurate as outdated structures are torn down and construction projects are finished. Taking the time to review and correct any inaccuracies for your property record can often result in a reduction of your property taxes.
Inquire About Tax Incentives That You May Qualify For
Many municipalities offer a variety of tax incentive programs that you may qualify for. In some cases these incentives are offered based on age, while other incentives may be based on income level or the installation of eco-friendly products in your home. Taking the time to contact a reputable tax service to inquire about which property tax incentives may be available to you is a great way to secure a lower tax bill without the need to invest much time or money in the process. However, it is important to note that many of these programs require you to reapply each year in order to ensure you still qualify for the reduced tax amount. Consequently, it is important to ensure you keep track of application deadlines to ensure you do not find yourself facing a higher-than-expected tax bill.
Be Sure To Actively Get Involved In The Assessment Process
A property assessment will be performed in order to determine exactly how much you owe in property taxes. If you are looking to reduce your property taxes, it is always a good idea to actively get involved in this assessment process. This is because while a property assessor may be well trained in the task of determining a home's value, there is simply no one who is more acquainted with the pros and cons of your home than you. By taking the time to walk through your home with the assessor, you are able to ensure that they take both the good and bad features of your home into consideration when determining your home's value. This can prevent your home from being over valued due to the assessor overlooking negative features of the property.