Will your Idaho Property Tax Assessments drop?.... Not necessarily

If assessed home values drop, will property your taxes do the same?

You should be receiving your new "Property Valuation Notices" in the mail very soon.

I know that everyone is hoping their tax assessed value will be reduced on these valuations.  Unfortunately, whether your home value goes up or down, your property taxes won't necessarily follow suit.

"Taxes are not tied directly to home values, despite what a lot of people think," said Alan Dornfest, property tax policy supervisor for the Idaho State Tax Commission.

According to him, "Your Taxes are based on the budgets of taxing districts." and  "If cities, counties, and other taxing districts budget the same amount from property tax from one year to the next, but property values go down, the levy rate goes up automatically to compensate."

For most taxing districts, budgets aren't set until August or early September, so final property tax amounts won't be certain until then.

Dornfest said property values are determined by county assessors as of January 1 of each year, so whatever happens to the real estate market later in the year has no impact until the following year's assessment. While property values have plummeted in some parts of Idaho during 2009, Dornfest said, they've actually risen in others.

The Tax Commission oversees Idaho's property tax system, which is administered by the counties. For more information on property assessments and taxes, visit the Property Tax section of the Tax Commission's Web site at tax.idaho.gov.

 

Please contact me with any of your Real Estate / Relocation / Referral needs:

Pam Jank, Realtor, GRI, CRS, ABR, RRS, PPS
Previews Property Specialist
Your North Idaho Real Estate Pro
FREE MLS Listings Search at:
Web:  Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale
email to:pamjank@hotmail.com
Phone:  208-661-2282
Fax:  208-772-628 Toll Free:  800-829-2555 EXT.1275
COLDWELL BANKER SCHNEIDMILLER REALTY
435 W. Hanley Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID  838315