Property Tax for Homeowners
An Educational Guide to Property Tax in the state of Idaho
Reprinted with permission from the Idaho State Tax Commission
If you’re a homeowner, you may have some questions about the way your property is assessed. The assessed value of your home is part of the calculation of how much tax you pay. Assessments should be accurate so that all taxpayers pay their fair share of the total property tax.
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about property assessment and taxes.
Q. How is property assessed?
A. Idaho law requires that all taxable property be assessed at market value each year. To do this, your assessor develops valuation guidelines based on the sales prices of comparable homes in your area. Some factors that often influence what a buyer would pay for your home and land are size, quality, age, condition, and location. The county assessor uses this information to estimate how much a buyer might reasonably pay for your home if it were to sell on January 1 of the current year.
Q. How often are property values adjusted?
A. The value of your property may change each year depending on real estate market changes. An appraiser from the county assessor’s office must visit your property at least once in each five-year period. During the other four years, the county assessor will use information from property sales and/or from the inspections of other properties to estimate the current market value for your property.
Q. How can my property be assessed on improvements when I haven’t made any?
A. The term “improvements,” as used in property assessment, doesn’t refer just to remodeling, renovating, or upgrading. “Improvements” include paving, buildings (your house, garage, manufactured home, etc.), or other structures that add value to land, regardless of whether existing, new, or when completed.
Q.
What makes property real or personal?
A. Real property consists of land and the improvements attached to it. Personal property normally isn’t attached to the land; it’s generally mobile and doesn’t last as long as real property. A copy machine is an example of personal property. Generally, personal property that’s used by the owner for a nonbusiness purpose isn’t subject to property tax. An example is household furnishings. If the same property is used in a business activity, whether in a private home or elsewhere, it’s subject to property tax and you must report it to the assessor. Properly registered vehicles, including recreational vehicles, aren’t subject to property tax.
Q. How do I know what value the assessor has estimated for my property?
A. The value of your property is shown on your assessment notice. The county assessor usually mails this notice to you by the first Monday in June. If you don’t receive this notice, contact your county assessor.
Q. What if I disagree with the value the assessor estimated for my property?
A. Contact your county assessor if you disagree with the assessed value. Your assessor maintains a file of information on your property. If you have questions about your assessment, you should review this information with the assessor to ensure its accuracy. If you can’t resolve your disagreement with the assessor, you may appeal to the county board of equalization, which consists of your elected county commissioners. Most appeals must be filed with your county clerk by the fourth Monday in June. Properties assessed at other times of the year have different appeal dates. Property values maintained by your county assessor are public records. You may also ask to review the value of other properties in that county.
Q. How is my property tax determined?
A. The amount of tax is determined from the budget needs of the taxing districts. Many kinds of taxing districts exist in Idaho. Some, like cities and counties, levy taxes to provide a wide range of services. Others levy taxes for specific purposes like highways, schools, or fire protection. Officials for each taxing district determine the annual budget needed to provide the district’s services. The part of the approved budget to be funded by property tax is divided by the total taxable value of all properties within the district. The result is the district’s tax rate (or levy). This rate, multiplied by the taxable value of your property, determines the amount of taxes you owe to that district. Each property is located within several independent taxing districts. Your property tax bill will include taxes for all the districts where you live. The tax rate for a taxing district is the same for all taxable properties within that taxing district.
Q. When will I get my property tax bill?
A. The county treasurer mails the tax bills to most taxpayers by the fourth Monday of November. Contact your county treasurer if you have questions about your tax bill.
Q. How can my taxes go up if my property’s taxable value doesn’t increase?
A. Tax rates may be affected by a variety of factors.Rates may increase due to a taxing district’s emergency needs or voter-approved bonds and override levies. Total tax rates may increase due to the creation of a new taxing district that includes your property or because other property values declined while yours didn’t. For example, if a business has downsized or slowed for local industry or agriculture, a county’s economy may suffer and affected property values may go down. Consequently, your taxes may be higher since taxing districts still need to pay for basic services.
Q. What is the average property tax rate?
A. In 2006, the average urban property tax rate was 1.21 percent. This compares to 1.57 percent for 2005. In 2006, the average rural rate was 1.784 percent, which compares to 1.125 percent for 2005.
Q. Are there limits on property tax increases?
A. Yes. Most taxing districts have maximum tax rates they can charge. Districts other than schools are limited to annual increases of 3 percent plus an allowance for growth on a portion of their budgets. The growth allowance is calculated from the value of new construction and annexation that occurred during the prior year.
Q.
Why do I pay higher taxes than my neighbor?
A.
You may live in a different taxing district than your
neighbor. Differences in size, quality, or condition of
your property can result in value differences.
Also, your neighbor may be eligible for some form of
property tax reduction when you either didn’t qualify
or didn’t apply.
Q.
Is any tax relief available to homeowners?
A.
Yes. If you’re a homeowner, you can apply for an exemption
on the value of your owner-occupied primary residence,
including a manufactured home. The exemption applies to
fifty percent of the value of the residence (including up to
one acre of land) or $100,938, whichever is less. Taxes are
computed on the nonexempt value. You may also apply for this
exemption on your home (not land) if you’re paying occupancy
taxes.
Applications are available from your county assessor’s
office. When an application is approved, the exemption is
continuous as long as you own and occupy the property. If
you sell the property, the new owner must file
a new application. No income or age restrictions exist, but
you can qualify for an exemption on only one home at a time.
You must own and occupy your home before April 15 of the
current year and must apply for the
exemption by April 15.
You may also qualify for a property tax reduction if you
meet the income requirements and fit one of the
following categories:
- Age 65 or older
- Widow(er)
- Blind
- Former POW
- Fatherless or motherless minor
- Qualifying disabled persons
Applications are available from your county assessor. You
must apply each year between January 1 and
April 15.
Q.
What is an occupancy tax?
A.
If you buy a home that no one has ever lived in and move
into it after January 1, you must pay an occupancy tax. The
tax is on the prorated value of the improvements for the
portion of the year since first occupancy.
Q.
What if I can’t afford to pay my taxes?
A.
If you can’t afford to pay your taxes, you can apply to your
county commissioners for a hardship exemption. Most
applicants must file by June 20 to request a hardship
exemption from the current year’s taxes.
Q.
When must I pay property taxes?
A.
You can pay taxes for most property in two equal
installments, with the first half due December 20 and the
second half due the following June 20. You can also make
installment payments. However, you must pay the full year’s
tax on a manufactured home before you can move it.
Pay your property taxes to the county treasurer. Contact
your county treasurer for more information.
Q.
What happens if I don’t pay on time?
A.
Overdue taxes accrue interest and penalty. Property taxes
are an automatic lien against your property. If taxes are
unpaid three years after the due date, the county takes
title to real property, such as land and houses. The county
commissioners may sell the real property after taking title.
Personal property, which includes certain manufactured
housing, can be sold immediately after property taxes are
overdue.
Q. How can I get more information about my property taxes?
A.
For more information, read the following brochures available here:
- Property Tax Reduction
- Idaho’s Forest Land Taxation Law
- Personal Property Valuation
- Manufactured Housing
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relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the
Lewis-Clark Association Of REALTORS® (LCBOR) IDX Program and is copyrighted by
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