Property taxes are a necessary evil that we all have to deal with. It’s one of the many reasons why people invest in real estate, as it can help offset some of those costs for you! But what exactly is property tax? What do you need to know about your local property tax rates?
Property tax is typically imposed by state governments and collected by counties or municipalities. The government levies a fixed percentage of the assessed value of a piece of property against its owner for certain purposes such as education, fire protection, street improvements, etc. Local governments collect these taxes from owners based on their assessments or valuations relative to other properties in their area then determine their property tax rate for mileage.
State law may allow for higher rates on some properties, such as apartment buildings. State law will determine how often your home is assessed, usually at least once every three years.
There is a lot to learn about property taxes but this article is made so that all the common questions can be answered.
What Month is Property Tax Due?
In New York, property taxes are due every year on the same day as your house’s mortgage payment. This is usually your first of November. For those who have a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, this means that you will be paying for the next two decades until it expires. It may seem like a long time to pay for something that doesn’t provide any income or other benefits but if you own a home in New York, chances are good that you’ll need to pay property tax too.
As mentioned before, property tax is typically due around the same time as your monthly mortgage payments and also includes homeowners insurance and local school district taxes. In general terms, these three items make up what many people call their “property tax bill.”
Property tax is based on the assessed value of your home which is then multiplied by the property tax rate. The assessed value is determined during certain times of the year and uses several factors to determine the market value of your home including past sales history, location, size, type/style of construction, and recent renovations/additions.
How Do You Pay Your New York Property Tax?
There are many factors that go into figuring out the best way for you to handle this task. Do you have enough money saved up or do you need a loan? Is now the right time to make an investment in real estate?
These are all questions that come with paying your property taxes. There are various ways that homeowners can pay their taxes: by mail with a check or in person at the tax office.
What Time of the Year are Property Taxes Due?
Every year, property owners in New York are required to pay their property tax. This is an annual assessment that includes both the current and prior years of ownership for all properties within a municipality. The deadline for payment varies by county, but most municipalities require property taxes to be paid no later than April 1st.
As with many other states, homeowners in New York can either mail or deliver their payments in person to the local assessor’s office or they may choose to make a credit card payment online at any time during the year. If you have questions about how much your taxes will be this year, contact your local assessor’s office as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on any deadlines.
What is the Deadline for Property Taxes?
The deadline to pay property taxes is typically the same as your federal income tax return, so if you are not sure of when that is, it’s best to check with a local accountant. The IRS offers plenty of online resources for taxpayers in this regard.
If you file your taxes before the deadline date then any refund due to you will be issued promptly and without penalty. If you do not have sufficient funds available at the time of filing, then there are several options available including an installment agreement or an extension on paying off the balance owing. These are both great ways to avoid having penalties assessed against you because of late payment.
The last thing anyone wants is for their homeownership investment to incur unnecessary costs because they were unaware of how the law affected them. When it comes to personal finance there is a lot of conflicting information available and it becomes even more challenging when one tries to determine the difference between what the tax laws state and how individual companies choose to apply those rules.
How Do You Know When Property Taxes are Due?
Property taxes are due on a yearly basis and must be paid before the end of each year. What is not always known by homeowners, however, is when these taxes are due in relation to their property’s current tax assessment date. To find out what your property’s current tax assessment date is, simply search for your address on the county assessor website. Once you know what day your property pays its taxes this year, it becomes much easier to plan ahead for when to pay them so that you don’t miss the deadline.
Property Taxes in New York
It is important to know how property taxes work in order to avoid being taken advantage of. Property tax is levied against an owner’s real estate to raise revenue for local government or school district purposes, such as public safety services, transportation infrastructure, public schools, and other educational facilities. Property taxes can be paid annually or biannually by a landowner at rates set by state law.
Your property tax bill is one of the most significant expenses in your life. It’s important to understand how you can pay them and get a break on what you owe each year, and we hope this article has helped you do that! If paying taxes seems like too much work for you or if it’s more than your budget allows, consider contacting an accountant who will be able to help with all aspects of dealing with property taxes in New York. Remember not to put off filing because penalties could add up quickly; file as soon as possible so that any interest charges are minimized.
Image Credits
East Coast Radio / Google Stock Images
Grandview Lender / Google Stock Images
FAL / Google Stock Images
Guardian Wealth / Google Stock Images
VPR / Google Stock Images
Brick Underground / Google Stock Images