Walk It Through: The Tax Bill
A homeowner's exemption missed, a higher value, a late bill, and the home a creditor cannot reach.
A homeowner realizes the homeowner's exemption was never filed after moving in.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One homeowner's tax year. The reduction for older owners, the board's appeal to the state, special assessments and a mortgage escrow account are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Board of equalizationThe county board that hears a taxpayer's written appeal of an assessment or exemption decision, filed by the fourth Monday of June for the property roll.
- Homeowner's exemptionThe exemption from property tax of the first $125,000 of a homestead's market value, or 50% of it, whichever is less, for a home that is owner occupied and the owner's primary dwelling.
- HomesteadA home occupied as the owner's principal residence, protected automatically against creditors up to $175,000.
- MinorA person under eighteen years of age. A minor who has been married may enter contracts and sue on them.
- Property tax reductionA reduction on the homestead's property tax for an owner in a listed group, such as sixty-five or older or disabled, with household income under the limit, claimed between January 1 and April 15, of up to $1,500 or the actual tax.
- Tax deedThe deed to the county the tax collector makes when delinquent real property is not redeemed within three years, after notice. The owner may still redeem for fourteen months unless the county sells sooner.