You can't own property in USA

[sgluckadoo]

How do you feel about having to pay property taxes on the same property year after year, (essentially the same thing as renting your property)? I can see paying it once, when you first aquire a proprty, but overe and over again seems unconstitutional. If I retire and have limited $ I have to pay the same property taxes or risk losing the property. How does this make sense?

[sgluckadoo]

 

[falcon9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_tax_in_the_United_States

[Flackle]

When you retire you shouldn't have limited $. Its your fault that you didn't invest into something that brought you income, even when you don't work.

[osage]

  OK, here is how it was explained to me! You buy a piece of property and you pay it off! It is yours as long as you pay the property tax year after year to the state it resides in. Originally your property belong to the United State Government and when the states came along, then your property belonged to each individual state. . The states pay taxes to the United State Government on your property. If you die and have no heirs or do not will it to anyone who can pay the taxes on it, it reverts back to the state. If the state doesn't pay the taxes on it, it reverts back to the Federal Government. I live in Oregon and I wanted to sell off all my belongings, dismantle my house, rent a U-Haul and move my one acre I owe, up to Montana. Oregon wouldn't let me!!!  

[sgluckadoo]

I guess I should clarify... I do understand what the tax is and how it is calculated; this was more of a philosophical question about the fact that we have to repeatedly pay the government for something we "own" . and despite the fact that you may pay your mortgage off, you will still "owe" the government money year after year for the property that you paid for and supposedly "own".

Here is what my state did to deal with lower property values. they "helped" property owners by lowering the assessed value on properties which would then lower the proprty taxes. however, they raised the millage rate, so they get the same amount.

 

[falcon9]

I guess I should clarify... I do understand what the tax is and how it is calculated; this was more of a philosophical question about the fact that we have to repeatedly pay the government for something we "own" . and despite the fact that you may pay your mortgage off, you will still "owe" the government money year after year for the property that you paid for and supposedly "own".

In a way, we only 'rent' the land anyway.  Some immigrant-"native" tribes, (they wandered-in from elsewhere, as did everyone else), believe that no one can "own" the land; that we just use it and what has value is the usage itself.  After one 'people' occupied the land that other had previously occupied, (including other non-native tribes usurping other tribes and so on), the situation evolved to 'who occupied it last'.  That would be the federal government and then, the states.  These goverment entities legislated private land "ownership" laws which are essentially long-term leases as long as "levies", (property taxes), are paid. 

The same general taxation 'scheme' applies to income taxes in that taxes are often paid on income previously taxed, (very generally, for illustrative purposes).

Here is what my state did to deal with lower property values. they "helped" property owners by lowering the assessed value on properties which would then lower the proprty taxes. however, they raised the millage rate, so they get the same amount.

Yep, taxes fund government 'programs' and negotiating reducing either is an uphill political battle.

[bsmith52]

How do you feel about having to pay property taxes on the same property year after year, (essentially the same thing as renting your property)? I can see paying it once, when you first aquire a proprty, but overe and over again seems unconstitutional. If I retire and have limited $ I have to pay the same property taxes or risk losing the property. How does this make sense?

you said it! it makes no sence, but your comment makes up for all the sence it lacks.

[tinajacksonville]

You do own the property when you purchase it. Property taxes is like paying the personal property taxes IE vehicle registration. Then does that mean you dont really own your vehicle?

[sgluckadoo]

You do own the property when you purchase it. Property taxes is like paying the personal property taxes IE vehicle registration. Then does that mean you dont really own your vehicle?

Kind of yes. If you are caught with expired tags (from not paying your taxes) then your vehicle can be impounded (not yours until you pay the taxes and fines).

[falcon9]

You do own the property when you purchase it. Property taxes is like paying the personal property taxes IE vehicle registration. Then does that mean you dont really own your vehicle?

Kind of yes. If you are caught with expired tags (from not paying your taxes) then your vehicle can be impounded (not yours until you pay the taxes and fines).

Additionally, if one has financed the purchase of their vehicle, they don't technically own it until its paid-off.  Land/property has 'residual use' in that the 'dirt'/property remains where it is, no matter what use it is put to, (therefore, that usage has been deemed taxable).

[hawkeye3210]

I guess I should clarify... I do understand what the tax is and how it is calculated; this was more of a philosophical question about the fact that we have to repeatedly pay the government for something we "own" . and despite the fact that you may pay your mortgage off, you will still "owe" the government money year after year for the property that you paid for and supposedly "own".

Here is what my state did to deal with lower property values. they "helped" property owners by lowering the assessed value on properties which would then lower the proprty taxes. however, they raised the millage rate, so they get the same amount.

 

You are paying your local government to fund different services which can include the police, fire department, roads and related costs, schools, etc.

[falcon9]

I guess I should clarify... I do understand what the tax is and how it is calculated; this was more of a philosophical question about the fact that we have to repeatedly pay the government for something we "own" . and despite the fact that you may pay your mortgage off, you will still "owe" the government money year after year for the property that you paid for and supposedly "own".

Here is what my state did to deal with lower property values. they "helped" property owners by lowering the assessed value on properties which would then lower the proprty taxes. however, they raised the millage rate, so they get the same amount.

You are paying your local government to fund different services which can include the police, fire department, roads and related costs, schools, etc.

Thanks, "hawkeye", that's a much clearer way to put it than "residual usage" taxes and levies.  

[southernhorizons]

  OK, here is how it was explained to me! You buy a piece of property and you pay it off! It is yours as long as you pay the property tax year after year to the state it resides in. Originally your property belong to the United State Government and when the states came along, then your property belonged to each individual state. . The states pay taxes to the United State Government on your property. If you die and have no heirs or do not will it to anyone who can pay the taxes on it, it reverts back to the state. If the state doesn't pay the taxes on it, it reverts back to the Federal Government. I live in Oregon and I wanted to sell off all my belongings, dismantle my house, rent a U-Haul and move my one acre I owe, up to Montana. Oregon wouldn't let me!!!  

You've got one thing wrong, at least for the original states. Those states came before the federal governemnt, since they were the ones who ratified the constitution to start the federal government. Even some of the later ones, such as Texas and Hawaii, were independent countries before they were annexed as states in the US.
Other than that, you explained it pretty well!

[falcon9]

You've got one thing wrong, at least for the original states. Those states came before the federal governemnt, since they were the ones who ratified the constitution to start the federal government. 

Wrong; the 13 colonies ratified the Constitution and these were not states before there was a federal government. They were colonies. Those colonies later became states after the formation of a federal government and after that, latter territories became states.