Like many American’s last month I went and visited my accountant to prepare and file a federal tax return. Many thoughts raced through my mind on how to spend my newly

found fortune, new clothes, a well-deserved night out or possibly pay down the credit card. Although all of them sounded appealing, like many of us I used my tax return to pay my property tax bill. This is a common way for many; use our tax return to pay our property tax.

This vicious cycle has been played out every spring since I became a homeowner. It was not until last year that I thought about all of the planning and preparation that went in to my federal taxes only to glance at my property tax bill and write a check without question or a second thought.

After utilizing many available tax deductions and credits many may find that the amount of

federal taxes paid is less than the amount of their annual property tax.

When we examine our local property tax the same concepts apply as federal tax, however we rarely take notice. For example most municipalities allow for tax deductions and credits to offset the amount of property tax due. Many states give you a lower tax rate just for owning the home as your primary residence, being a veteran, or if you are over 65 years of age to name a few.

While these credits and deductions are important to take note of the more important issue is what your local government has valued your home at. This can often make the most impact to taxpayers. Known as your assessed value, this is what is used to multiply your local tax rates in order to arrive at the amount of property tax you will owe for the year. This can be one of the most overlooked aspects to homeowners, especially as of late in this current housing

meltdown.

It is first important to find what your local assessor has for a property description of your home as mistakes often occur. Verify the square footage, the number of bedrooms and other data on your property record card is correct. Most assessors never look at your home, rather employ mass appraisal systems and rely on public record information to assess your homes value.

Why are we entrusting our local taxing authority to tell us our homes value? According to the Tax Foundation over 60% of homes in America are over assessed. More than half of us are paying too much property tax. All areas do allow taxpayers to dispute their annual assessment while less than 5% take corrective action. Maybe the IRS should take note of our local taxing authorities and make certain assumptions about everyone’s annual income, I would imagine a few more than 5% would disagree with the figure they propose.

The bottom line is we need to take notice of our own property taxes just as closely as we do our federal income tax filings. In this current housing market where a 10% reduction in home value could equal $500 in tax savings it is up to each taxpayer to assess their own assessment.

The website LowTaxRate.com is a free resource for taxpayers to better understand their property tax, tax assessments and offers help to dispute inflated tax assessments. It is important that we all make certain we are paying our fair share of tax.

Free Keene blogger and liberty activist Ian Freeman pays a $2700 property tax demand to the city bureaucrats of Keene, NH for 6 months of “service”.

Although I am not a real estate guy and have never bought a single square of property at anywhere. But, being a human I have been in needs of renting a house, flat, appartment and office place. Pakistan is full of real estate agents – generally called property dealers. A general (and common) thinking about buying, selling and renting property is to acquire (hire) a property dealer’s services. It gets very difficult sometimes to find a suitable and safe deal without these guys. There are many compelling reasons which a person (like me) will think about to hire such services; such as:

These are a few reasons which I have been facing in past few years. And I believe every Pakistani is suffering with such causes. A property dealer works like a middle man as any commission agent for any other kind of business deal. These guys try their best to cut the throats of seller and buyer. If you are a seller/renter and you have offered a good commission to a property dealer then thumbs up to your deal – you get what you want. And if you are a buyer and you have offered a good commission then hats off to your deal. This is a common scam – not only for a real estate deal but for every business deal also.

An investor with heavy investment can rule the industry like a king. There were times when someone could save money out of his/her salary or small business and could buy a house, a piece of land (plot) and/or a shop – as a future investment, for self usage or to secure the money. It’s a grand-pa story now. The big investors like our rulers, ministers, industrialists, MPAs, MNAs and business-mens have played very well to destroy the whole real estate industry in Pakistan. They put heavy investments – planned small towns – redirected government policies in their benefits – glamourized their offerings for general public – looted the money and flew away. An oridinary man is just paying the installments – for nothing or he will behind the bars. Many of such big fish are ruling us and have built their pyramids around us.

Every day we can see such scams reported in news papers, TV and internet.

Another very common fraud is to selling a property to multiple hands. In Lahore (Pakistan) there’s a development authority (LDA – Lahore Development Authority) which is responsible to handle the deals offered by LDA’s planned towns and other land (which is the property of Punjab Government in Lahore). The guys at LDA are real magicians – yes, they sell your plot/house to number of people. Even you can buy whatever you want – just a matter of money. You should always take great care before buying a property (not only in Lahore but anywhere in Pakistan) that you should confirm from the development authority for the real owner. And this is only possible when you have enough money to fill their stomach – otherwise – get ready to put a law suite in courts and train your kids (and their kids and their kids….) to follow up the hearings.

These are smallest and very “lowest” harmful scams – THERE ARE BUNCH OF THESE.

It doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t invest in property. You should – it’s a gold mine in Pakistan. But all you have to be VERY careful – I mean VERY CAREFUL. Once you are in then no one can get you out of it – I am talking about both sides of picture.

While the recent recession and economic crisis have made it difficult to secure many types of loans, Texas property tax loans stand out as an exception. Texas continues to report some of the highest property tax rates in the country and with real estate values holding up well in this state, there has been little tax relief for property owners.  Given the high rates and the ever present challenges in the economy, property owners should know that delinquencies can be addressed with a property tax loan before penalties, interest, and possible foreclosure by the county.

With the economic crisis worsening, property tax lenders expect a record number of borrowers in the months ahead.  If you are interested in a solution for your delinquent property taxes, these frequently asked questions may assist your search.     

Q: What is a property tax loan and how can it help me?

A: Property taxes are due in a lump sum by January 31st.  The amount of tax due increases every month thereafter until the taxes are paid.  A tax loan consolidates the delinquent taxes, accrued penalties, interest, and any legal fees owned on the property into a loan with affordable monthly payments. The taxing authority´s existing lien is transferred to the property tax lender as security for the loan. 

Q: What type of property will qualify for a Property Tax Funding loan?

A: Loans are available for almost any type of real estate as long as the borrower is not in bankruptcy, there is no IRS lien on the property, and the property is reasonably maintained. This includes residential, commercial, investment properties, and vacant land. 

Q: What if I’ve had past credit problems?

A: Credit history is typically not an issue, except in cases of current bankruptcy.  Loans are approved for most applicants, even those with not so perfect credit.  All loans are subject to income verification

Q: How long does the loan process take?

 A: From the time the application is completed the closing can occur in less than a week.  Applications can be taken online or over the phone.  Loan closings are typically handled with a mobile notary that comes to a location convenient to the borrower. 

Q: How much money can be saved by avoiding interest and penalties on a delinquent property tax bill?

A: Penalties and interest are set by state legislature and begin to accrue on February 1st.  While county rates vary, you can expect penalties, interest, attorney fees and court costs of 37% to 44% per year.  It´s easy to see how a property tax loan can save thousands in penalties and interest, while more importantly, avoiding foreclosure and lawsuits by the taxing authorities.

Q: What are some considerations when choosing a property tax lender?

A: In addition to choosing a lender with years of experience and specialization in property tax lending, only work with a lender who is licensed by the state of Texas.  You can validate if the property tax lender is licensed to make property tax loans in Texas with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner.   http://www.occc.state.tx.us/pages/searches.html

You can also learn more about Texas property tax loans by contacting Property Tax Funding at http://www.propertytaxfunding.com/ or calling a loan officer at 877-776-7391.

Most countries tax non-residents on property in their country. Furthermore, most double taxation agreements between the country and the UK do nothing to prevent this. Consider these five categories.

1. Tax on property purchases (similar to UK stamp duty land tax). After over 20 years in the tax advice business, there are few things which still surprise me. One thing which does still amaze me is just how often people still seem to overlook the fact that the UK is not the only country in the world with taxes. Anyone who invests abroad has a potential exposure to overseas property tax. Wherever you buy, you will face overseas property tax. Foreign property taxes generally fall into five categories; tax on property purchases; annual charges; tax on income; tax on property sales; tax on death or gifts. It is interesting to note that all but one of these categories are likely to apply to a foreign holiday home owned by a UK resident and if the property is ever rented out, all five will apply. This just goes to show that, when it comes to foreign property tax, the investor and the holiday home owner have more in common than you might expect. Many countries impose a tax charge of some kind when property is purchased, usually based on the purchase consideration paid.

2. Annual charges (comparable to UK council tax).These come in many different forms and are often charged by local or regional governments. There may be an annual charge on property ownership on either a flat rate or linked to the property value. Additional charges sometimes apply to properties which are not the owner’s main residence. There may also, or alternatively, be an annual charge on property occupation – either at a flat rate or linked to the property’s value. Another common annual charge is a wealth tax. Many countries impose this charge on non-residents based on the net value of the property and other assets which they hold in the country. Where a UK resident suffers annual charges on occupation or ownership, these may usually be treated as running costs and can be deducted as an expense from rental income or trading profits for UK tax purposes. Such costs are only partly deductible where there is some personal use of the property. The treatment of wealth taxes is less clear. These are often regarded as a personal cost with no deduction available in the UK.

3. Tax on income (similar to UK income tax). Most countries will tax profits and income derived from property whether through letting, development or dealing. Rental income may either be taxed on an accounts basis, based on profits after certain deductible expenses, or as a flat rate on rent received. Where an accounts basis applies, each country will have its own rules regarding what expenses are deductible. Flat rate systems allow for little or no deduction of expenses. In many cases, the tax on non-resident landlords is a simple flat percentage of rent received and may have to be withheld at source (i.e. a withholding tax). Reduced rates of withholding tax often apply under double taxation agreements and must be claimed where available. Profits from property development and dealing are usually taxed on an accounts basis and sometimes also attract additional social taxes like the UK’s national insurance. For UK tax purposes, double tax relief is usually available for overseas property tax on property income or they may be claimed as a business expense.

4. Tax on property sales (comparable to UK capital gains tax). Having spent more than 20 years in the tax advice business and having dealt with many overseas property tax authorities, another thing which does still amaze me regularly is how often people seem to think that they can sell a property abroad and not face a tax liability on it. Wherever you sell, you can expect to face up to foreign property tax. Some countries charge tax on the gain arising when a property is sold. Many countries do provide an exemption for the owner’s main private residence although you will find that this is not generally available to non-residents. Properties held for longer periods are also often exempt. Many countries, like the UK, will treat profits derived from property sales by developers and dealers as income. Double tax relief for overseas property tax suffered on capital gains is usually available against UK capital gains tax. Tax on property sales is often overlooked by UK investors, and they do so to their cost.

5. Tax on death or gifts (similar to UK inheritance tax). Many countries do not have any death taxes but just as many which do. Generally, where there is a death tax, there will usually be a similar tax on lifetime gifts as an anti-avoidance measure. Most countries with a death tax will charge it on non-residents in respect of property and other assets within their borders. Double tax relief for foreign death taxes is available against any UK inheritance tax liability arising on the same assets. Double tax relief will also be available for foreign tax gifts if the same gift gives rises to a UK inheritance tax liability although this will be rare unless trusts are involved. Wealth warning: do not assume that there will be an exemption from foreign death or gift taxes in respect of transfers to your spouse or civil partner. This will not always be the case. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware that foreign gift taxes may apply to lifetime transfers of property or shares in property (e.g. putting a foreign property into joint ownership with your spouse).

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Property Tax Payment

Taxing units usually mail their tax bills in October. The date of delinquency is normally February 1st.  If you have not received your tax bill by January 1st, you should contact your tax assessor to determine the amount owed. 

Property tax bills often include more than one taxing jurisdiction because some taxing jurisdictions combine their collection operations.  Likewise, certain properties will be subject to multiple taxing jurisdictions collected by different assessors.  Contact the central appraisal district for your respective county to determine the taxing jurisdictions which apply to your property.  Many county central appraisal districts now post their property tax data online. 

If you escrow taxes and insurance, then your mortgage company will pay the property taxes on your home.  You should receive a receipt from the tax assessor indicating payment has been made.  The receipt is important to retain, as many homeowners deduct property taxes for federal income tax purposes.

When Is the Deadline for Payment?

In most cases, the deadline for paying your property taxes is January 31. Taxes that remain unpaid on February 1 are considered delinquent. Penalty and interest charges are added to the original amount.

Taxes are due in one lump sum.  Some tax collection offices provide payment options, such as:

 Payment by credit card, typically with additional fees of 3% to 5%  Deferment or installment plans for taxes on homestead properties for disabled property owners or property owners over 65 years of age  Discounts for early payment  Partial payment of your taxes

If you are qualified for the over-65 or disabled homestead exemptions, you may pay your current taxes on your home in four installments. You must pay at least one-fourth of your taxes before the February 1 delinquency date. The remaining payments are due before April 1, June 1 and August 1, without any penalty or interest. If you miss an installment payment, you will face a penalty and also pay interest at 1 percent for each month of delinquency. You must indicate on your first payment that you are paying your home taxes in installments. Installment payments apply to all taxing units on the tax bill.

Homeowners whose residences are damaged in a disaster and are located in a designated disaster area also may pay their taxes in four installments, in the same months as over-65 or disabled homeowners.

What If my Taxes are Delinquent?

The longer you allow your delinquent property taxes to go unpaid, the more expensive and risky it becomes for you.

Penalty and interest charges will be added to your taxes.
Penalty charges and interest charges will be added to your tax balance.  Private attorneys hired by taxing units to collect delinquent accounts can charge an additional penalty to cover their fees.  The following table details the potential penalties, interest, and attorney charges imposed on a delinquent property tax account.

Month Penalties & Interest
February        7%
March            9%
April              11%
May              13%
June             15%
July               32% to 37%*

*Collection Attorney Fees Vary by County, but are typically 15% to 20%.

Accounts not paid in full by June 30th of the year in which they become delinquent are normally referred to the delinquent tax attorneys for collection and incur an additional penalty equal to 15% – 20% of the total taxes, penalties and interest due.  Generally, any payment on the quarterly payment plan that is not paid before the delinquency date of the installment accrues a full penalty of 6% immediately, and begins to accrue interest at the rate of 1% per month until paid.

You will receive delinquent tax notices.
The tax collector will send you at least one notice that your taxes are delinquent. They often send multiple notices and warnings. You may have the option to set up an installment plan.
Some tax collectors will allow you to pay delinquent taxes in installments for up to 36 months. They are not required to offer this option. You may be sued.
The tax collector can take a delinquent taxpayer to court. All court costs will be added to the delinquent tax bill. Your property may be foreclosed upon.  You could lose your property! 
Each taxing unit holds a tax lien on each item of taxable property. A tax lien automatically attaches to property on January 1 each year to secure payment of all taxes. This tax lien gives the courts the power to foreclose on the lien and seize the property. The property then will be auctioned and the proceeds used to pay the taxes.

 Are there other options available to pay property taxes?

 Yes, specialized lenders exist who focus solely on property tax lending.  These lenders provide an alternative to the lump sum payment of your property taxes.  A property tax loan will immediately stop the added penalties, interest, attorney fees, and pending lawsuits for the county.  Most lenders offer flexible loan terms with repayment schedules up to 10 years.  Loans are available for almost any type of real estate as long as the borrower is not in bankruptcy, there is no IRS lien on the property, and the property is reasonably maintained. This includes residential, commercial, investment properties, and vacant land. 

 To learn more about property tax loans and the lending programs available visit Property Tax Funding, http://www.propertytaxfunding.com/, or call a loan officer at 877-776-7391.

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ABU DHABI — New laws to grant six-month residency visas to individuals who buy freehold properties will be ready next month, a top Ministry of Interior official said on Tuesday.
The ministry is also studying the possibility of granting residency visas to the families of property owners.
The move comes amid a 20 per cent decline in property prices and a predicted fall of up to 50 per cent in some areas by the end of the year.
“We are working on this draft to unify and streamline the procedures of issuance of residency visas for expatriates who purchase properties such as flats, offices, and shops,” said Brigadier Nassir Al Awadi Al Menhali, Acting Director-General of the Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department.
“They will get a six-month visa which can be renewed.”
Al Menhali said that details of the law, such as how much the renewal would cost, have not yet been worked out.
“It couldn’t come at a better time for the market,” said Vincent Easton, head of sales at Sherwoods, a property consultant firm. “I’m just confused about why it is only six months. It seems more like a visit visa.”
Previously, developers in Dubai had tried to entice prospective buyers from Pakistan and Iran by saying they could sponsor them for a three-year visa. However, problems arose when the application for residency was rejected by the Naturalisation and Residency Department (NRD).

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