Property tax

[outsider]

Property tax means you don't own something. You merely paid a high premium to rent it.

[MsThang]

Well, not really. In the state of texas the only two taxes we pay to Texas govt are sales and property.

Property taxes are generally only issued/collected by local authorities/services.

[outsider]

And if you don't pay property taxes?

[MsThang]

You get tax liens and you can't sell or refinance your house until you pay them. And your credit goes to shit.

[outsider]

So if you own it and don't pay taxes you can't sell it?

Doesn't sound like ownership to me. Ownership seems to imply being able to transfer possesion.

[cursed74]

how else are they going to maintain the street in front of your house?

[MsThang]

Well sure you could do a title transfer and collect money on the side, but then you are also transferring ownership of your back due property taxes. There's nothing that says you can't sell your house; you just can't sell it and get title policy/insurance because no title company is going to issue a clear title on the house because of the taxes. And no smart buyer is going to buy your house without a title policy.

[HaloGuardian]

If you don't pay property taxes here your house can be taken away.

[outsider]

This is why I say property tax just means rent with a high premium.

[HaloGuardian]

That's exactly right. Unless you live somewhere without property tax you can't own land. It's just like Canada.

[MsThang]

Not saying it can't happen, but I've never seen it happen. If you get a tax lien it takes over first lien position on your house over any lender's.

[...said sadly]

and your point is? it's not fair, it's been like this for a long time, and not likely to change anytime soon.

[BillyBobRedneck]

Let's all say fuck it and move to Africa and start our own tax free country.

[Team Brian GB]

So what is your total tax liability:-

Over here
40% of income over £35,000
17.5% on all sales
Local govt. tax (council tax) £1200-2000
Road Tax £150
Stamp Duty (1% of a house sale)
11% of earnings National Insurance Contributions (social security)
10% of Capital Gains
40% Inheritance Tax over £285,000

Not to mention all the duties that the British Government levies

[Roguesqd23]

Outsider you guys dont pay sales tax. But I have heard you property tax is very high

[outsider]

Yeah we could have lower property taxes. Ideally none. I don't have such issue with a state income tax. I have problems with taxes that can steal someone's property. If you buy it you own it. If you "buy it" and can have it taken for not paying lifelong fees than you don't own it.

[...said sadly]

property tax never really made sense to me...in florida, which has very high property tax rates, most of the money goes to education anyway. why not just have additional income tax for education and whatever else property taxes pay for?

[HaloGuardian]

An income tax is a lifelong fee as long as you are employed (if you are alive). It's just as bad.

[outsider]

A state income tax while annoying does make more sense to me. You can opt out of income if you wanted to and it does go to some services that you use. It's the same as a sales tax in general/

[HaloGuardian]

How do you opt out of income?