What’s the difference between real estate tax, property tax, and personal property tax?

real estate taxes vs property taxes

When you do, you may need to describe the details of the property. Real estate taxes are levied annually or semi-annually, and your local government determines the tax rate. “The amount of real estate taxes a person must pay is based on the worth of the home and the region of the country they reside in,” Fox says. As in most real estate matters, costs will typically be higher in big cities and lower in more rural areas.

Once you have both of these numbers, simply multiply your home’s assessed value by the mill levy. The resulting number will be the amount of property taxes you are expected to pay each year. You can do so by checking your local tax assessor’s website or giving them a phone call. Both types of taxes are assessed based on the value of your property. The key differences are what counts as real property vs. personal property and how each type of property is taxed. Understanding how to calculate NOI and measure cash flow are two crucial skills in real estate investment analysis.

Apply Your Municipality’s Millage Rate

These taxes are charged by county or local jurisdictions, which may choose to include different types of property in the tax assessment. Things like boats, planes, campers, RVs, ATVs, farm equipment, and business equipment like furniture or machinery are taxed under personal property. Since they’re all moveable, a personal property tax is assessed on their value, similarly to the way your home’s tax value is assessed.

real estate taxes vs property taxes

However, technically speaking property taxes include both real estate property and personal property. Real estate taxes are taxes assessed explicitly on the value of residential or commercial property. For example, real estate taxes might include taxes levied on a condo, house, or apartment building. Property taxes would include these, along with taxes on personal property such as boats, cars, or other vehicles.

Strategies for Increasing Cash Flow and NOI in Real Estate Investments

For example, your car is personal property and when you register it every year, you’re essentially paying a property tax on it. Real estate taxes are the taxes you need to pay on the assessed value of your home that the municipality in which you own your property charges you. Personal property taxes are the taxes on moveable items you own, such as cars, boats, equipment, and furniture.

  • When people think of tax season, they often picture business owners scrambling through disorganized paper receipts and files.
  • Real estate taxes refer directly to the taxes you pay on your home and land.
  • It helps investors see if a property has good NOI, which means it’s making more money than it costs to keep it up.
  • It’s always recommended that you use a tax professional, especially one that works with property owners and investors.
  • Track each and every business expense, and keep proper records throughout the year.
  • The assessed value usually declines each year due to expected wear and tear.
  • The state technically doesn’t impose a property tax and doesn’t benefit from the tax revenues.

To calculate your real estate property taxes, the local assessor will multiply the local and state property tax rates by the assessed value of your property. Some property owners pay the taxes directly, while others have their property taxes paid by their mortgage company from money set aside from the real estate taxes monthly mortgage payment. These taxes are paid to local or state governments to fund schools, community projects, infrastructure or other undertakings. You can pay real estate taxes directly to a local tax assessor or indirectly through your monthly mortgage payments by way of an escrow account.