I can't believe they did it (part deux)

[CobyRupert]

We were involved in a case not too long ago where a tax appraisal district erroneously dropped a dwelling house from a parcel. Of course this caused the tax bill to be significantly reduced.

When he got the tax bill in the first year that the dwelling had been dropped he simply paid it and never mentioned it. This occurred for several years. Finally the tax appraisal district looked at it, realized their mistake, added the dwelling back and increased the value of the entire parcel to reflect market value. That got his attention. Especially when they sent him a corrected bill for every year the dwelling had been dropped.

He sqwalked to everyone. He actually thought he had the upper hand because it was t麹heir mistake?
He said he just never noticed it. :laughing:

We couldn't figure a way to argue for him with a straight face. Especially when the tax appraisal district routinely gives back over collections. If you had a building a removed it from the property but never took the time to advise the tax appraisal district and you came in with solid proof that it had been removed up to 5 years back they refund the overpayments.

The Tax man usually Always catches up with you.

I don't get it. I assume you were on a Tax Appeal Board of some kind? You sent him a bill. He paid in full. And probably got a receipt that probably said "Property XYZ: Taxes due for year 2011: $yyyyy Paid in Full, Balance: $0"

Since when can someone come back years later and "Correct their bill". Can a tractor dealer do this too? "Hey Two Bit, we left off a $5000 charge for "Extra Dealer Prep" that we didn't put on your bill. You were responsible for knowing this. You now owe us $5000 or we'll steal your tractor, sell it at auction, and give you a $0 refund."

Shame on you if this was your approach to the owner. Lucky for you he was a peaceful man.

In high tax NY, if you suddenly hit a homeowner with a 5 year tax bill that they need to immediately pay, it would wipe most people out and they'd have to sell or abandoned their home to the county that's stealing it. Disgusting that it wasn't even their mistake that wrecks their life and puts them out in the street.

 

[ovrszd]

My tax obligation has changed considerably within 2019. Dropped a parcel. Added a parcel. Changed the value on a parcel. I'm going to the Courthouse this week to visit with the County Assessor and County Tax Collector to ensure everything is accurate. I could probably get all the answers with a phone call. I have the ability to do it in person and will fell more comfortable doing it that way.

I consider my approach to be fiscally responsible. I consider TBS example to be fiscally irresponsible.

 

[goeduck]

Back in the early 1900s my great great grandfather was the state tax commissioner. Taxes had to be paid within 3 years or so and if not they went into foreclosure as they do these days. But the County did not charge interest so the farmers would pay 3 years late and use the money in between if they had that discipline. In my g g grandfathers case he was a farmer as well and he would invest the money. Legend has it he would buy up foreclosures with his gains.

 

[ovrszd]

Back in the early 1900s my great great grandfather was the state tax commissioner. Taxes had to be paid within 3 years or so and if not they went into foreclosure as they do these days. But the County did not charge interest so the farmers would pay 3 years late and use the money in between if they had that discipline. In my g g grandfathers case he was a farmer as well and he would invest the money. Legend has it he would buy up foreclosures with his gains.

Smart man.

So it was okay for him to do that, buying foreclosures at the taxpayer's (County) expense?

 

[goeduck]

Smart man.

So it was okay for him to do that, buying foreclosures at the taxpayer's (County) expense?

Do you pay more taxes than is due? He did not, nor do I.

 

[ovrszd]

Do you pay more taxes than is due? He did not, nor do I.

This isn't a question of what was due. He simply paid it late and profited from the investment of the taxpayer's (County) money. Nothing illegal about it at all. A little unscrupulous being the State Tax Commissioner. You might say he had "inside" information in regards to the details of the law.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I have a friend who's Dad was the Co. tax assessor for San Diego County back in the 50's & 60's . When ever properties didn't sell at the tax auction he would look them over and buy the ones that were a deal.He ended up with several older homes with ocean views for peanuts. When he passed away my friend, who happens to be an estate lawyer, and his brother inherited them.They fixed several of them up and sold them in the 90's for incredible profits. They both kept a couple to live in and some to rent.
Was this wrong in some way? I personally wish my Dad had been a tax assessor rather than a railroader.

 

[Jstpssng]

It started in 2011, when he underpaid by $496. He didn't try to settle that one until 2013. Then he miscalculated his interest by $8.41. With interest and penalties, it grew to $258. He didn't try to settle that until 2014. By then, the only reason he figured something was up was because the tenants stopped paying rent, because the house was seized by the county and they moved out.

He'd left the state with no forwarding info. How the heck did he think someone would contact him for payment?

And all the while, he kept sending in what he thought was the normal tax payment.

Apparently, they don't look at the address on the check (if that was correct), and just go by the records, which is what they should do.

While I completely disagree with their policy of selling it and not giving any proceeds over the amount owed back to the owner, he set the wheels in motion by not paying the correct amount two different times, and not changing his mailing address with the county. Why didn't he check with the county on an annual basis, especially since he lived out of state, and especially since he muffed the first payment by $500? Then muffed it again by $258!

Even if they would have given him the overage amount, it was only something like $24,500, he's still out about $35,500 from his original purchase price He bought the house for $60K, and it is now worth $120K, and he missed a few years of rentals as well.

If they change the policy and make it so that the owner gets anything over the amount owed after the auction, it's still not anywhere near the amount it's worth.

How far should the county go in looking for him to pay the bill before they seize the property?
How much time should they give him to pay his taxes?
[FONT="]How long should they keep the proceeds from the sale hoping he'll turn up?[/FONT]

You found out a lot more about this than I did... which isn't unusual with you. Yet in over 200 posts I only recall one member disputing the county's right to collect his unpaid taxes along with interest and (somewhat) reasonable fees. What many of us take exception to is the county's right to monies over and about those taxes, interest, fees, and costs. Several have given examples of other alternatives- i.e., returning any excess to the delinquent taxpayer.

 

[goeduck]

This isn't a question of what was due. He simply paid it late and profited from the investment of the taxpayer's (County) money. Nothing illegal about it at all. A little unscrupulous being the State Tax Commissioner. You might say he had "inside" information in regards to the details of the law.

You are full of it but par for course. He did everything legal and followed the law at the time. What is unscrupulous about following the law? Laws are on the books, even in those days, and available to anyone who takes the time to research them.

Some guidance for you on the subject of doing things according to the law can be found in this guys post below:

Whether you think property tax is right or not isn't in debate. What's in debate is our expectations of our neighbors in regards to obeying the existing laws and paying their individual obligations according to those laws.

 

[two_bit_score]

I don't get it. I assume you were on a Tax Appeal Board of some kind? You sent him a bill. He paid in full. And probably got a receipt that probably said "Property XYZ: Taxes due for year 2011: $yyyyy Paid in Full, Balance: $0"

Since when can someone come back years later and "Correct their bill". Can a tractor dealer do this too? "Hey Two Bit, we left off a $5000 charge for "Extra Dealer Prep" that we didn't put on your bill. You were responsible for knowing this. You now owe us $5000 or we'll steal your tractor, sell it at auction, and give you a $0 refund."

Shame on you if this was your approach to the owner. Lucky for you he was a peaceful man.

In high tax NY, if you suddenly hit a homeowner with a 5 year tax bill that they need to immediately pay, it would wipe most people out and they'd have to sell or abandoned their home to the county that's stealing it. Disgusting that it wasn't even their mistake that wrecks their life and puts them out in the street.

Coby you make too many erroneous assumptions to have a civil conversation with.