Legal Tax, or Tax Legal, Advice Needed

[G-Man]

Town does a town-wide reassessment of all the properties.  Some had their taxes increases, some stayed the same, and some got decreases.  To "help" those whose taxes were increase by 25% or more, the town instituted a "phase-in" plan where their taxes would increase slowly for 5 years.

In order to do this, those that received a decrease will have their decrease phased in.  Yes, that's right..... those who were overpaying, and those who stayed the same, will have to pay more than their share to offset the loss from those with phased-in increases.  The town is forcing people to overpay to make up for those who underpayed and who will still underpay for the next 4 years.

Is this legal?  Can the local government force you to overpay taxes?

BTW, a study was done and it was determined that many who received increases did so because they did work on their homes and properties with permitting the work.  So those that scammed and payed less than their fare share will still be paying less than their fare share while those who played by the rules will have to continue to overpay to make up for them.

       

[Jess from VA]

This is not one of my areas of expertise.

Frankly, we have all (everywhere) been overtaxed forever, at every level from local to national.

You would think that some gunslinger tax lawyers (there must be some around you) would have run some successful cases, if they could have.  So it's probably all legal (not moral, fair or rational, but legal).

When I moved into this tax crazy place 25 years ago, I was warned against ever challenging my real estate taxes.  They got all the power and free lawyers, and a long memory.   Many local real estate valuation appeals (through an administrative process, not courts), end up with a higher (not lower) tax bills.   The way they work it in my county, our assessed values consistently run about 5-7% under what comparable homes are selling for on average.... they just keep raising the mils (rates per thousand), to fund their 4 billion dollar county budget.  If you appeal, you'll get 100%, actual valuation.

And here's another point of view; even if you had the resources ($) (especially teaming up with a dozen or so neighbors in the same boat as you, sharing legal bills), and went through all the hoops to get something successfully challenged...... the town fathers would just come up with another plan to screw everyone (that doesn't run afoul of that litigation); including recouping all the money they spent defending the lawsuit you won.

I think the only remedy most of us have is to move out to the sticks where real estate taxes begin to resemble something actually fair.  Or screw them over and live on a boat.

My house (built on 1/3 acre in '60 for $17,500) was paid off last year.  Over the next ten years, my taxes will be in the neighborhood of $40,000.  (Man that would buy a lot of good liquor, cheeseburgers and loose women.)

Home ownership is one of the essential parts of the traditional American Dream.  The respective G's have learned to get their unfair share of that dream, everywhere!!! 

Motor vehicles run a close second (sales tax, personal property tax, registration and plates, inspections, tax on every tire, quart of oil, gallon of gas, tire disposal, and on and on)

   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not all States overtax their people. In Alaska we paid no income tax, small amounts of property taxes, and in most localities no sales tax. We even received money from the state for just breathing. Although this looks to be coming to an end pretty soon.
How much do loose women run these days ? 

[Jess from VA]

Not all States overtax their people. In Alaska we paid no income tax, small amounts of property taxes, and in most localities no sales tax. We even received money from the state for just breathing. Although this looks to be coming to an end pretty soon.
How much do loose women run these days ? 

Well, from my limited perspective..... they run pretty fast.   

[G-Man]

But this isn't overTAXing, This is overPAYing.

My tax bill should $x, but I'm being forced to pay $x+Y, to make up for someone else paying $x-y who was paying $x-y-y-y-y all along.

And you are right, I will never see satisfaction or this rectified.  But imagine, a half a dozen people get to make a rule that costs thousands of people money to make up for hundreds who scammed.  And they all agreed to continue this process to not hurt those who scammed and to continue hurting those who didn't.  I wonder if those board members had their taxes increased?  I can't imagine someone who was decreased voting to continue to overpay.

[Jess from VA]

Gary, if you can ID a half dozen or so like-affected people willing to share the cost of litigation, go for it.  Assuming you can find a litigator who is good and thinks you have an actionable case.

File for a preliminary injunction from the new rules, pending litigation outcome.  That will piss them off.  But prepare for the inevitable end runs (and organizational vengeance).

[Moonshot_1]

Not all States overtax their people. In Alaska we paid no income tax, small amounts of property taxes, and in most localities no sales tax. We even received money from the state for just breathing. Although this looks to be coming to an end pretty soon.
How much do loose women run these days ? 

4 or 5 miles before they get tired and stop.

[G-Man]

Not all States overtax their people. In Alaska we paid no income tax, small amounts of property taxes, and in most localities no sales tax. We even received money from the state for just breathing. Although this looks to be coming to an end pretty soon.
How much do loose women run these days ? 

4 or 5 miles before they get tired and stop.

 

[cookiedough]

compare tax base of properties in your area with same sq. footage and similar size house, etc.

I did this with my neighbors finding out my 300-400 less sq. foot home was almost as much as my neighbors next door and my house only about 10 years newer is all.  I filed an appeal with our local assessment office and won my case having my assessed value go down about 10 grand or more which was justified. 

It does not help when these rich people (or in debt up their eyeballs) build 500-800,000 homes on our street up on the hillside thus increase my tax base because it is down the same road as these fancy homes.  I still remember clearly in 1993 when I built my 1104 sq. foot ranch home age 22-23 my house builder neighbor, whom I never knew at the time stopped his truck me working outside and told me he ,being an arrogant a-hole, did not like my small plain jane ranch home not fitting into his fancier home grand scheme of things.  I told him to F off as politely as I could, have not spoken to him or his wife ever in the next 25 years.  Oh well,  not missing anything there....    I got into it with my other neighbor as well.  Long story short he is lucky I was not home so my wife went over and told them both off also about 15 years ago.  Have not spoken to him much either. 

[old2soon]

My Brother and my S I L Have given me a rough cut on their tax assessment tax liability where they are in Illinois. Lets just say if I had what they're bleeding in tax money would NOT take very long to pay off a New G/W or Can Am or even a NEW mid size pick up. My personal property tax bill for 2016-$38.71. My personal property tax bill from 2015-$43.18. I rent so there's that. My tags for 2 years on my Phatt Ghurl-$24.50. Believe my tags on the cage are less than 30 bucks a year. Go on ahead and ask me again as to the WHY of me livin in Southern Missouri. We also enjoy here in Missouri open carry no permit required. My C C W was fairly easy and C C W class back round check Certifying I am NOT a convicted felon-which they DO check out-bit south of $200.00. Course there is he 7% tax you pay on ANY vehicle purchase-one time. But at least here I am making it on my S S.  I shudder to think what y'all-Gary and Jess and others-are forced to deal with tax wise.  RIDE SAFE.