Property Tax Archives

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023

Welcome News: Some States Are Helping Seniors Defer Their Property Taxes

Taxes keep going up, following property values. But some homeowners — and buyers — can tap into county or state property tax breaks.

Some states exempt seniors from property tax. Some states let eligible homeowners put off paying property taxes — in many areas, for as long as they own the home. An exemption doesn’t have to be paid back. A tax deferral does.

Plans are being expanded in some locations, so it’s always worth it to check in with your government’s revenue department if you think you might be eligible.

September 27, 2021September 28, 2021

Montana Property Tax Going Up? Not So Fast.

Image of the welcome to Montana sign. Captioned: Montana Property Taxes

Property prices are surging most everywhere. And when property values rise, taxes — charged based on a percentage of property values — rise right along with them. So, confronting property tax hikes has become a rallying cry in many states.

Montana is no exception. And now, a former Montana legislator has submitted a proposed ballot initiative to halt major tax increases for people who aren’t buying or selling, but just keeping their real estate.

Let’s take a look at how it’s going so far.

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021

Illinois Property Taxes Are Ridiculous. A 2021 Change Helps Some Seniors, But Cook County Assessment Scandals Add to Challenges

Person looking at a phone with a concerned look on their face.

Property taxes are a test of strength for most homeowners. For people on fixed incomes, rises in property values — and thus taxes — can be dastardly. Now, imagine people on fixed incomes who just happen to live in Illinois.

Illinois ranks #2, after New Jersey, for highest property taxes in the nation, according to a recent WalletHub analysis. The Illinois homeowner shells out an average of $5,000 in property taxes on a $217,500 house. That means people in Illinois pay double what the average homeowner pays in property taxes nationwide.

Some seniors can’t pay it, and have no way to earn the extra income. For them, there is a little extra relief coming this year — perhaps just enough to keep some of the most cash-strapped homeowners in their homes. More on this below.

May 19, 2021May 19, 2021

Do-It-Yourself Stimulus? The Rise of the Property Tax Protests

Image of a row of houses backlit by the sun with fluffy clouds in a mostly blue sky. Captioned: The Rise of the Property Tax Protests

For years running, Texans have been protesting their property taxes. This year (2021), Texas homeowners had until May to object to their county assessors’ valuations of their homes. When they win their cases, their homes’ market prices don’t change. But their tax bills do.

County procedures enable Texas homeowners to contest their property tax assessments. Some Texans now regard the process as a necessary savings strategy in a challenging economy.