I Paid My Annual Rent (AKA Property Tax)

[oldag]

When my wife and I returned to the United States last Spring, we bought a house in Arlington, Texas. We paid cash for our house because we operate on a debt free basis. We are so thankful to God that He has blessed us with that ability... but we worked internationally for 10 years to be able to do that. My wife, who is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, is now applying for legal immigration (waiting now for 8 months for the US government to issue her a green card). My wife was so happy to have a house that we owned 100%. Then I told her about the property taxes we had to pay. Her response, after being shocked by such a thing, was that we really didn't own anything in this country. If we are forced to pay this tax and the government can seize our property if we don't pay it, we really don't own anything. Our apartment in Yerevan, Armenia is 100% owned and we NEVER pay any property taxes. The years we lived in Egypt, South Korea, and China... we never paid any property taxes. But here we are, shelling out several thousand dollars in taxes. Oh yes, also paying $400 per month in HOA fees. Maybe we should go back to Armenia.

If the US is so bad compared to Egypt, South Korea and China - maybe you should move back.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

If the US is so bad compared to Egypt, South Korea and China - maybe you should move back.

I didn't want to be the one to say that....

 

[oldag]

Public services don't come from nowhere and don't come free - no matter what Bernie Sanders claims.

They have to be paid for one way or the other. In Texas, the money largely comes through property taxes. No income tax or personal possession taxes.

Some countries may not have property taxes, but have high taxes in other forms. And some countries offer very little in the way of public services.

And some countries have lower cost of living, but a lot lower salaries too. {Not talking about expat pay.}

Now we could talk about how efficiently those taxes are used, but that is another discussion. And a problem not unique to the U.S.

All in all, I still would choose no other country in which to live.

 

[ShadyOaksGunRange]

I hate property tax. I really hate it. I will never own my house nor will my kids. If we ever fail to pay Uncle Sugar his tax it will be taken at gunpoint and sold, literally, on the courthouse steps.

Any ideas to get rid of it?

My first thought is get rid of it, cut the budgets to where they should be, and re-evaluate. Even our beloved red state pays for too much unnecessary crap. I'd rather pay a sales tax, which I can avoid by not buying stuff, than to rent my property from the government.

/rant

SAY LESS and Do MORE
The only issue that ever makes me want to run for Public Office (Mayor or State Congress) is PROPERTY TAX. Nothing my neighbors do should drive my living cost and my taxes should be based on what I paid, not what the appraiser declares. Property Tax on increasing appraised value is like paying income tax on Unrealized Stock Gains or claiming Federal Income Tax Losses based on unrealized stock losses.
City and Education budgets should be based on actual realized Growth, ie 100 new $400K homes taxed at $400K. Taxing existing like properties as if they are worth $400K only creates budgets that grow without cause or reason, but of course if you are reading this, then you agree. Send an Email to your State Senator, Representor, Mayor, and Local Community College President saying

"Stop Raising My PROPERTY TAX. Nothing my neighbors do should drive my living cost and my taxes should be based on what I paid, not what the appraiser declares. Property Tax on increasing appraised value is like paying income tax on Unrealized Stock Gains or claiming Federal Income Tax Losses based on unrealized stock losses. County, City and Education budget forecast and expenditures should be based on actual realized Growth, ie 100 new $400K homes taxed at $400K and taxing all similar existing homes as if they sold yesterday for $400K will eventually lead to a Tax Payers Revolt."

here are the Reps and Senators...find yours and send the note NOW!
https://house.texas.gov/members/find-your-representative/

Senate
https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

 

[mitchntx]

Whitney, Tx
I live in a retirement community.
1200 sq/ft living
1200 sq/ft shop

WISD taxes - $53
HCAD taxes - $336

 

[ShadyOaksGunRange]

If the US is so bad compared to Egypt, South Korea and China - maybe you should move back.

It's not about NOT paying taxes, it is about fair taxation. Taxes should be based on Actual Sales Value, not projected values. Does anyone on this forum pay Federal Income tax on Unrealized Capital gains....I think not.

 

[TX OMFS]

I don't get this. No one likes taxes of any type, but the services we get from government (police, fire, courts, schools, etc, etc) are not without cost. #nofreerides

Sure the government needs some money to operate but it's WAY over done. And, I want to actually own my home.

 

[oldag]

Sure the government needs some money to operate but it's WAY over done. And, I want to actually own my home.

Would you rather pay it in income taxes?

Either way, the bank balance goes down the same amount. And that is what matters to me, not which form the tax comes in.

 

[pronstar]

Yeah the cumulative, overall tax burden we pay is what really disgusts me...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[avvidclif]

Would someone update us with the latest overall tax rate (including income tax) for Texans as opposed to some other countries. Please include Armenia.

 

[D4Haley]

I never had kids....

Same here. My property tax just keeps going up and up and I do not live in a ritsy part of San Antonio either.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Same here. My property tax just keeps going up and up and I do not live in a ritsy part of San Antonio either.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[TX OMFS]

Would you rather pay it in income taxes?

Either way, the bank balance goes down the same amount. And that is what matters to me, not which form the tax comes in.

I'd rather see a flat tax or sales tax and own my home.

Even an income tax is better cause you don't have to pay it - you can quit working one day or go on the teet today.

With a property tax you can't avoid it & you never own your home.

We pay too much in total. We support too many deadbeats. Uncle Sugar spends too much. Give me the budget & a red pen and I'll cut it in half.

 

[oldag]

I'd rather see a flat tax or sales tax and own my home.

Even an income tax is better cause you don't have to pay it - you can quit working one day or go on the teet today.

With a property tax you can't avoid it & you never own your home.

We pay too much in total. We support too many deadbeats. Uncle Sugar spends too much. Give me the budget & a red pen and I'll cut it in half.

Money paid is money paid. Need to use logic over emotion.

 

[Big Dipper]

I'd rather see a flat tax or sales tax and own my home.

Even an income tax is better cause you don't have to pay it - you can quit working one day or go on the teet today.

With a property tax you can't avoid it & you never own your home.

We pay too much in total. We support too many deadbeats. Uncle Sugar spends too much. Give me the budget & a red pen and I'll cut it in half.

Just hope and pray that the profligate spenders in government NEVER get to impose a “value added tax”. That gets buried and you never see how much they are taking from you!

 

[TX OMFS]

Money paid is money paid. Need to use logic over emotion.

Okay Bernie.

 

[perfor8]

Stop paying school taxes and they will have no way to continue.

Yes, but are there any cons?

 

[oldag]

Okay Bernie.

If you would think a little deeper, you wouldn't make a stupid statement and act like a liberal.

Taxpayers have the potential to exercise more control over the property tax than over sales tax or the control that would be available with a state income tax.

Appraised value out of line (e.g., does not reflect market value, not equitable compared to similar properties)? You can protest. And if you have a valid complaint, you will win.

Want lower school taxes? Vote in a different school board. This is easier than voting in a tax cutting state legislature.

Similar for county and city taxes.

And tell me, if $3k in tax comes by property tax how much does your bank account go down? $3k.
If $3k comes by sales tax (or any other tax), how much does your bank account go down? $3k.

If you think changing the type of tax will save you the $3k, YOU are acting like Bernie. And just as wrong and delusional.

 

[TX OMFS]

If you would think a little deeper, you wouldn't make a stupid statement and act like a liberal.

Taxpayers have the potential to exercise more control over the property tax than over sales tax or the control that would be available with a state income tax.

Appraised value out of line (e.g., does not reflect market value, not equitable compared to similar properties)? You can protest. And if you have a valid complaint, you will win.

Want lower school taxes? Vote in a different school board. This is easier than voting in a tax cutting state legislature.

Similar for county and city taxes.

And tell me, if $3k in tax comes by property tax how much does your bank account go down? $3k.
If $3k comes by sales tax (or any other tax), how much does your bank account go down? $3k.

If you think changing the type of tax will save you the $3k, YOU are acting like Bernie. And just as wrong and delusional.

With property tax we never actually own our homes. If you want to rent from the government I don't know what to say.

Show me a local school board that has ever lowered taxes in Texas, short of a district closing.

If you want to talk tax theory, I want a flat tax amount, not a flat percentage. That won't happen so I'll settle for a flat tax. One flat tax to cover all levels of .gov. No other taxes of any kind.

 

[benenglish]

I'll settle for a flat tax. One flat tax to cover all levels of .gov. No other taxes of any kind.

Interesting idea but it'll never happen. Every little specialty tax out there has a constituency that will fight tooth and nail to keep it in place.

Heck, even the average TGTer is in one of those constituencies. Pittman-Robertson ring a bell?