Property Tax (Arlington, West: real estate, vehicle registration, insurance)

[StillLookingToo]

I have been reading about the high real estate taxes here in Texas and am wondering if there are any other property taxes in Texas? Cars, trucks, boats or other personal property? Here in AZ we have low real estate property taxes but you pay $700 or more (based on value) to register your $40,000 vehicle.

[smackie94]

registering vehicles deosnt seem to bad, dont thin kthee is "property tax" on there items. land/house is pretty rough attimes but depends where you live. i pay less tax on a house that cost almost 3 times as much as my first house

[loves2read]

depends on where you live as to how much tax you pay--if you live in unencorporated area of the county--you just pay county tax and school tax and the county hospital tax and probably the county college tax--you DON"T pay the city tax--so you do save some money---BUY you also don't get city services--no city police or fire or ambulance--just county and that can make a lot of difference if there is only volunteer fire dept and your house catches on fire...

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by StillLookingToo

I have been reading about the high real estate taxes here in Texas and am wondering if there are any other property taxes in Texas? Cars, trucks, boats or other personal property? Here in AZ we have low real estate property taxes but you pay $700 or more (based on value) to register your $40,000 vehicle.

No, just land/house (or business) property tax. Vehicle registration is reasonable (less than $100 a year). Although Texas has no income tax, the state (and local entities) do charge lots of fees to raise revenue.

[StillLookingToo]

Thanks, appreciate the replies. Good to hear no personal property tax. Yes the registration on the autos does seem reasonable, just wanted to see if I was missing anything.

[gregandvicky]

Originally Posted by StillLookingToo

Thanks, appreciate the replies. Good to hear no personal property tax. Yes the registration on the autos does seem reasonable, just wanted to see if I was missing anything.

We moved to Texas from Az. The property taxes where we live are $2.41 per $100 in valuation. Our house is worth $175,000, assessed at $150,000 and we pay $3200 a year in property tax which is more than double Az. After you consider the differences in vehicle registration, property tax, state income tax and personal property tax, Texas costs us about $1500 a year more than Az for the same stuff.

[KimK]

I agree. I am selling out of Texas entirely as the property tax situation is horrendous. My 300,000.00 house in West Texas was appraised by the county based on market value (how ridiculous). Of course, it didn't sell for that but regardless my last tax bill was 6800.00 per year. I have another small house that is valued at 75,000.00 by the taxing authority and I pay 2700.00 per year. these taxes have doubled in the last five years. This state cannot stick to a budget...their schools are falling apart under the pressure of so many students...corruption in state and local government is well known. This stuff about not paying state income tax is just smoke. I would much rather pay that as I can take deductions and lower the amount I pay. With property tax, what are you going to do but pay whatever they ask? These "caps"are non-existant. One authority may not increase your bill but then another one like a county hospital will then raise their portion. I would consider this move carefully.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by loves2read

depends on where you live as to how much tax you pay--if you live in unencorporated area of the county--you just pay county tax and school tax and the county hospital tax and probably the county college tax--you DON"T pay the city tax--so you do save some money---BUY you also don't get city services--no city police or fire or ambulance--just county and that can make a lot of difference if there is only volunteer fire dept and your house catches on fire...

You won't pay city tax but in many cases you'll pay MUD tax which can cost just as much as city.

I don't know about anyone else in here but our school tax rate plummeted from last year. It went down from 1.63 to 1.32%. Overall tax rate is 2.9 now, vs 3.2% last year. The assessed values have stayed constant since 2004. The tax rates have crept down from 3.35% year after year.

Let's hope it stays that way.

[CallMeLaura]

Property tax is deductible, too.

Texas definitely makes sense if you make a lot of money but don't buy a huge house. Probably not as friendly to retirees who have owned their house for a long time.

It was about $600 to register three vehicles. Each one is hit with a $90 New Resident Tax though. That's bogus. Plus $40 for an inspection. But our insurance was $300 cheaper (on the two cars, but don't remember if that was per year or 6 months. Not sure on the bike). Gas is cheaper, too.

Some free advice though - never move somewhere based on finances alone.

[lonestar2007]

I'm not too sure about the personal prperty tax. When I lived in Arlington, I was taxed a personal property tax on a boat I owned. I don't know if that was just a Tarrant County (or City of Arlington) thing or if any other counties (or cities) might implement this tax.