WHAT EVERY LAWYER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES
An insiders' guide to the confusing world of property taxation from BRUSNIAK TURNER. Providing insight and saving lawyers research time and their clients money since 1981

EIGHT RED FLAGS ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL
© John Brusniak 2024

Property tax bills are typically accurate. But errors on them can be serious and are a “hot mess” to fix. Strict time limits apply. Here are eight important things to double check on every property tax bill:
NO TAX BILL? BIG PROBLEM.
Didn't receive a tax bill? Start looking for it! By law, it's your responsibility to pay property taxes on time, even if you didn't get a bill. Missing it isn't a valid excuse, and penalties and interest are steep.

I DON'T OWN THAT!
Accidentally paying someone else's taxes is no fun, but it happens. Make sure the bill matches a property you own.

MY PROPERTY ISN'T WORTH THAT!
This is your last chance to catch and correct inflated property valuations.

I GOT TWO TAX BILLS FOR THE SAME PROPERTY!
Duplicate tax bills are more common than you'd think. Sometimes they're identical; other times, values overlap. Watch for doubling issues, especially when real and personal property used together are taxed or when one property enhances another's value, and it's taxed twice.

WHERE'S MY EXEMPTION?
If your property qualifies for an exemption—like a homestead exemption—make sure it's reflected on your bill. Partial or full exemptions are sometimes missed or deleted, so scrutinize carefully. And if you failed to apply, it is definitely not going to be granted.

BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SPECIAL!
Some properties are valued under much lower “special” formulas established by the legislature, not fair market value. If you own agricultural land, timberland, golf courses, retail inventory, dealer inventories, certain leaseholds, solar energy systems, or oil and gas properties, confirm they're being taxed correctly.

CAN MY VALUE INCREASE THAT MUCH IN ONE YEAR?
For residential homesteads, taxable value increases are capped at 10% annually. For certain business real properties, the cap is 20%. Make sure your “taxable value” does not exceed these limits.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN MY TAXES WERE DUE!

In most cases, property taxes are due by January 31. On February 1, penalties and interest kick in, increasing your bill by 7%. By July 1, the total can balloon by 38%.