DrEvazanPhD said:
I mean, great. How long until local taxing authorities arbitrarily decide that all of our homes are suddenly worth 250k more?
Im Gipper said:
From twk two times ago when this was discussed:Quote:
none of the people claiming that we can easily abolish property taxes and replace them with consumption taxes have even touched on the largest problem with this concept, and that is the sales tax is collected at the point of sale, not the residence of the purchaser. If you live in a district outside an urban center, your sales tax for purchasing cars, appliances, and basically anything of value goes to a jurisdiction other than the one where you live. Even if you live in a urban area, retail activity tends to be higher in some suburbs than others.
If we went with a consumption tax, we'd have to have the state collect the tax, and parcel the money out based on population rather than where the sales occur, or else we would be replacing a system which pretty effectively spreads tax out over the entire state with one which concentrates it in a few jurisdictions.
How can we implement this change in Texas without shifting the power of the purse from counties to Austin?
BusterAg said:Im Gipper said:
From twk two times ago when this was discussed:Quote:
none of the people claiming that we can easily abolish property taxes and replace them with consumption taxes have even touched on the largest problem with this concept, and that is the sales tax is collected at the point of sale, not the residence of the purchaser. If you live in a district outside an urban center, your sales tax for purchasing cars, appliances, and basically anything of value goes to a jurisdiction other than the one where you live. Even if you live in a urban area, retail activity tends to be higher in some suburbs than others.
If we went with a consumption tax, we'd have to have the state collect the tax, and parcel the money out based on population rather than where the sales occur, or else we would be replacing a system which pretty effectively spreads tax out over the entire state with one which concentrates it in a few jurisdictions.
How can we implement this change in Texas without shifting the power of the purse from counties to Austin?
Implement a 4% state sales tax on all internet deliveries, allocated to the counties by county of delivery. Boom.
You also make local brick and mortar more competitive.
ttu_85 said:BusterAg said:Im Gipper said:
From twk two times ago when this was discussed:Quote:
none of the people claiming that we can easily abolish property taxes and replace them with consumption taxes have even touched on the largest problem with this concept, and that is the sales tax is collected at the point of sale, not the residence of the purchaser. If you live in a district outside an urban center, your sales tax for purchasing cars, appliances, and basically anything of value goes to a jurisdiction other than the one where you live. Even if you live in a urban area, retail activity tends to be higher in some suburbs than others.
If we went with a consumption tax, we'd have to have the state collect the tax, and parcel the money out based on population rather than where the sales occur, or else we would be replacing a system which pretty effectively spreads tax out over the entire state with one which concentrates it in a few jurisdictions.
How can we implement this change in Texas without shifting the power of the purse from counties to Austin?
Implement a 4% state sales tax on all internet deliveries, allocated to the counties by county of delivery. Boom.
You also make local brick and mortar more competitive.
No thanks, Id rather the market determine such things vs the idiot government. Govs only job regarding business is to make sure the market has easy access, low resistance, and remains competitive. If a very very fine line. Dont want socialism and you dont want rule by monopoly/Oligopoly both are very toxic and exploitive
Sumlins Pool Guy said:
Homestead exemption should freeze the property tax at the Purchase Price. It's insane you have no idea what your tax will be on an asset. Add a 5% tax at sale (in this scenario I would have already put all the realtors in concentration camps so you're really no worse off)
Quote:
We also need to address the the Ag exemptions that subsidize recreational properties all over the state. I'm sorry but having recreational property that you shoe horn in ag use to get the tax break that then then requires that country to be subsidized isn't exactly what the ag exemption is for. If you live on the property and the farm or ranch is your primary income then continue as you were. But if you're a guy who spends more on high fences and protein feed then the ag income a year then you have a hobby not an ag business that I need to subsidize.
Quote:
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Helicopter Ben said:
How about this "offset" idea? Cut government outlays. There, I found the offset we need. We could cut a solid 90-95% of what government spends money on and no taxpayer would even notice.
The government is a bloated morbidly obese monster. It wastes enormous amounts of money. It either can't prevent or actively encourages fraud. And it is entirely unable or unwilling to hold bad actors accountable. It's quite literally the worst possible organization to assign most tasks to. Cut away EVERYTHING but the core functions of govt and taxes could be so low we'd barely notice the burden.
Helicopter Ben said:
How about this "offset" idea? Cut government outlays. There, I found the offset we need. We could cut a solid 90-95% of what government spends money on and no taxpayer would even notice.
The government is a bloated morbidly obese monster. It wastes enormous amounts of money. It either can't prevent or actively encourages fraud. And it is entirely unable or unwilling to hold bad actors accountable. It's quite literally the worst possible organization to assign most tasks to. Cut away EVERYTHING but the core functions of govt and taxes could be so low we'd barely notice the burden.
Pizza said:
In Texas you're fighting people in the legislature who have family that are firmly entrenched in the property tax protest business. Eg Bettencourt, Ownwell etc.
I highly doubt it happens in Texas, but I'm rooting for it.
The agents people hire to protest their Taxes show up and ask for a handout, that is often given to them, and then they tell the property owner "look what I did for you, pay me"
Many times they'll show up with your purchase price, and get your taxable MV dropped to it, and all you had to do was bring in your sales contract, and wait for a bit to get your cut.
If you take the time to just show up, the comptroller often advises the ARB in training sessions to give the homeowner a break. All you need is an equity argument such as a similar home with a much lower taxable market value, or a few sales that show you're over valued.
Don't let agents do for you, what you can easily do for yourself.
MouthBQ98 said:Pizza said:
In Texas you're fighting people in the legislature who have family that are firmly entrenched in the property tax protest business. Eg Bettencourt, Ownwell etc.
I highly doubt it happens in Texas, but I'm rooting for it.
The agents people hire to protest their Taxes show up and ask for a handout, that is often given to them, and then they tell the property owner "look what I did for you, pay me"
Many times they'll show up with your purchase price, and get your taxable MV dropped to it, and all you had to do was bring in your sales contract, and wait for a bit to get your cut.
If you take the time to just show up, the comptroller often advises the ARB in training sessions to give the homeowner a break. All you need is an equity argument such as a similar home with a much lower taxable market value, or a few sales that show you're over valued.
Don't let agents do for you, what you can easily do for yourself.
Sounds easy. I tried thisvin Bastrop County with a giant stack of research, comps of nearby similar properties, etc. Took off work, set an appointment, and they reviewed my work and then told me they would not agree to a reduction but I could take it to an arbitration if I wanted.
I spent a LOT of time and saved nothing that year.
Ogre09 said:
Or you hire one of those companies to rep you, they do all the work, and they take a fraction of whatever they save you. If they don't save you anything, you don't pay them anything. No risk, no work compared to the do nothing and take it approach.
Over_ed said:
My usual refrain...
Yes, most Texags are relatively well off, and btw WE HAVE EARNED THAT.
The second that you eliminate property taxes for homeowners, but not on rental property, you are shifting a huge portion of the cost of government on a group that is generally less well off. And this shift will make it more difficult for them to change their circumstances.
Neither a fair nor a good outcome, imo.
YouBet said:Ogre09 said:
Or you hire one of those companies to rep you, they do all the work, and they take a fraction of whatever they save you. If they don't save you anything, you don't pay them anything. No risk, no work compared to the do nothing and take it approach.
To earlier point, there may be some self-fulfilling prophecy in keeping the property tax machine going because these companies want to ensure their own revenue, but if you aren't doing this then you are doing yourself a financial disservice. Unfortunately, I did not start doing this until 5-6 years ago so I overpaid property taxes for several years. I've never not gotten at least a little bit knocked off when using one of these companies.
jkcpow said:
DeSantis should run for governor in Texas
LMCane said:
should I buy a home in Florida now
or is it too late and the cost of every home has gone up commensurate with the elimination of property taxes?!
Kenneth_2003 said:YouBet said:Ogre09 said:
Or you hire one of those companies to rep you, they do all the work, and they take a fraction of whatever they save you. If they don't save you anything, you don't pay them anything. No risk, no work compared to the do nothing and take it approach.
To earlier point, there may be some self-fulfilling prophecy in keeping the property tax machine going because these companies want to ensure their own revenue, but if you aren't doing this then you are doing yourself a financial disservice. Unfortunately, I did not start doing this until 5-6 years ago so I overpaid property taxes for several years. I've never not gotten at least a little bit knocked off when using one of these companies.
And the final tax rates aren't set until 100% of the appraisals are completed. Everyone gets their number lowered and your rate shifts up a few fractions.
County's and tax entity revenue does not change.
ttu_85 said:
Texas Property taxes suck !!!. I left in 2020 because I got sick of paying $1500pm to live in my own home that I owed outright. Now I have to move back for family reasons. I love being a Texan with the typical Texas is the best attitude, just not thrilled to live putting up with this garbage tax again along with heat, allergies.
But darn I do love the can do, get it done, kick'em in the ass attitude. Most states just dont have that. Absolutely the best state in the union for owning your own business-- and this is the main reason Texas is becoming dominant and why the left with their regressive policies should never win state wide office.
But Ug, the property taxes. Anything to get those down.
AGHouston11 said:
You can't even put up a three sided pole barn in Texas on land you own with a drone flying over adding it to your tax bill.
Want to build a small home on property you own and build it mostly yourself? Well 150k of materials. What is your prize after completion? A tax evaluation for 500k plus and a new tax bill for eternity!
The founders never intended this theft!
