Assessing question, paying taxes on real property

Say a pole barn burns and the remains, floor and all are removed from the property. At that point, should it be removed from the tax role and no more taxes paid on it? The message I am hearing is you pay on the remainder of the year, regardless of it being gone. It is the same for people who burn out of their home, still pay taxes on it even though not useable. Seems totally insane, wrong, and backwards. What are your experiences?
 
Tax day is December 31st. Whatever is on the property on that day is what you are assessed for and pay taxes on. There isn't a half year assessment. Just be sure that you let the assessor or Board of Review know by March Board of Review so they know it's off for next year.
If the building that you're taking about was gone and cleaned up by December 31st 2014 and it was still on the assessment that just came,make sure you go to the board and let them know so it can be taken off your current assessment.

rrlund
Chairman Sidney Twp Board of Review
Montcalm County
 
It's kind of the same on both ends. When you build something, it can take a whole tax year cycle for it to get on the rolls, likewise coming off.

We bought a neighboring derelict house last Apr. It was too late to get that parcel combined with the farm because of the "taxable status date" (if I'm remembering the correct terminology without looking it up) So we paid separate taxes on properties late last year for school taxes, and just recently on county/town tax. Should be combined for next time.
 
Depends on where you are. I have property in Colorado, and they only assess every other year. So whatever it gets assessed at, you're stuck with it until the next cycle.
 
Here's my take as a County Commissioner in Nebraska.

We Commissioners also act as a Board Of Equalization to resolve tax issues. Given the same scene here in Nebraska, an astute property owner would notify the County Assessor and the Assessor would present the situation to the Board of Equalization.

We haven't had that exact scene since I've been on the board, but I can't imagine we would insist on someone continuing to pay taxes on a building that no longer existed, probably prorating it for whatever part of the tax year it was standing. It would be up to the property owner to alert the Assessor, however.
 
I would agree with that as a possible scenario here in NY. All exemptions and changes have to be in about now. Then the local(town) assessor does their work. Then grievance(local board) day is in May. Assessment rolls finalized by mid year, then fall school taxes are the first based on the latest assessments. However, getting someone's attention, and getting results could be a challenge. Making this a possibility, not a probability!

It seems like any more, even on the town level, gov't. officials are working for themselves, the "system", are functionaries, or whatever. Working for the citizen is getting lost.
 
Typically whatever is standing on Dec 31st (or is it Jan 1st, I forget?) is what you pay taxes on for the year. Its not really prorated out over the year as you are looking at it; its a one time fee per year for having the building.

Paul
 
Ya,it's best to go to Board of Review to let us know that a building is gone. You're supposed to get a demolition permit to tear something down,but people almost never do because they think it's an attack on their freedom,but it's actually just to let the assessor know that the building is gone.
Here in Michigan,you actually pay taxes on what you had the previous year. Like I said,December 31st is the day that assessments are based on. The new notices went out last week based on what was on the property on December 31 2014. Board of Review meets for protests the second week of March.
School taxes are due in September,notices for winter taxes go out December 1st and you will have until February 14th 2016 to pay them if you choose to wait that long.
As far as giving somebody a break,we gave in once. We had somebody come in,spitting and drooling,telling us the house in question was uninhabitable. We told him,OK,have it down by the July Board meeting and we'll take it off. He didn't. It's gone now and we took it off,but even giving him extra time didn't prompt him to get it done.
Personally,I think taxing people a year late is a big enough break. They pay 2014 taxes in 2015 or 2016 and if they remove something in 2015,they won't pay 2015 taxes on it in 2016 or 2017,should they choose to wait until February 2017 to pay those taxes.
If I remember right,Tractormiallis lives just over west of me right here in Michigan,so what I'm telling you applies to his situation.
 
When I removed a burnt structure, I had to get a $50 permit, so there was a record. I also contacted the assessor.

My taxes are a year behind too. The taxes I paid in 2014 were for 2013.

If you have a question, go to the courthouse, or call to the treasurer.
 
Depends on your local and as other said some use a magic date. BUTT YOU NEED TO FILE OR CONTACT THE PPOWERS THAT BE. And get it taken off the tax role. In some real rural areas they only look things over ever few years. You may have to fill out a form and may get "prorated" for 1/2 year.
 

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