So if the people own the land and the government doesn't then why do we pay taxes on the land?

Question

I mean I understand the purpose and need for taxation but does that mean we really own it?

Owning the use of the land and owning it are not the same. If you lease a car you don't own it. So you really don't own the land right?

Answer 1

We have to respect the fact that we are part of a country. With out the country's support we would be on our own to defend our property and rights. We need to support our government, and the best way that anyone has come up with is taxes. I, for one, would like to not pay them, but then, we don't have much choice. Untill someone comes up with a better plan, I think we are pretty much obligated to pay. Your question of, do we really own it is rather complex. Yes, we own our own land, but if you default on paying your property taxes, your land can be sold to pay for those taxes. Most often the person who has their property go up for taxes will come through and still own their land, otherwise, it goes to the highest bidder. It is part of the price of being associated with society.

Answer 2

It comes from the fact that all land ORIGINALLY was owned by the government...So as part of the first contract for the land, it states the owner must pay property tax. That's gets passed down through the various sales. Trust me, it's tons better than the way they are doing in China...No property tax but you only have use of the land for 70 years...And here you do own the land...You have mineral rights, air rights, water rights, etc.

Answer 3

yes you own the land, you pay the taxes so the government can keep up the water and sewer lines that go to your home, the roads and sidewalks, streetlights, and other things that we take for granted. If we do not pay the taxes the Government can take the land, but it would be like putting up colateral (spelling) for a loan, you still own whatever you put up, but if you don't pay the loan they take the item(s) that you put up for collateral. Also if you dont help pay the land becomes run down and a nuisance to society, therefore the government steps in. This is my opinion, not fact. But I think it makes sense

Answer 4

The Government owns the land and you buy the rights to lease it by way of Taxes. You do not pay your rent then they evict you and sell the lease rights to someone else usually through Auction to the highest bidder.

Answer 5

We can own our very own piece of land. It's ours for life. Unless the government or big business wants it for something else, or we stop paying taxes on it, or our family becomes a little too...eccentric. Then we have to go.

Answer 6

Individuals don't own land. It is held in trust by the government for the people.

Answer 7

You don't own the land unless you pay off the loan. Even if you pay off the loan, you still have to pay property taxes. It's just a fact of life.

Answer 8

In the United States, property tax on real estate is usually assessed by local government, at the municipal or county level. The assessment is made up of two components -- the improvement or building value and the land or site value. A tax assessor is a public official who determines the value of real property for the purpose of apportioning the tax levy. An appraiser may work for government or private industry and may determine the value of real property for any purpose.

Tax assessor offices maintain inventory information about improvements to real estate. They also create and maintain tax maps. This is accomplished with the help of surveyors. On tax maps, individual properties are shown and given unique parcel identifiers. The tax maps help to ensure that no properties are omitted from the tax rolls and that no properties are taxed more than once. Real property taxes are usually collected by an official other than the assessor.

The assessment of an individual piece of real estate may be according to one or more of the normally accepted methods of valuation (ie income approach, market value or replacement cost). Assessments may be given at 100 percent of value or at some lesser percentage. In most if not all assessment jurisdictions, the determination of value made by the assessor is subject to some sort of administrative or judicial review, if the appeal is instituted by the property owner.

Ad Valorem (of value) property taxes are based on fair market property values of individual estates. A local tax assessor then applies an established assessment rate to the fair market value. By multiplying the tax rate x the assessed value of the property, a tax due is calculated. These taxes are collected by municipalities such as cities, counties, and districts in many locations in the United States. They fund municipal budgets for school systems, sewers, parks, libraries, fire stations, hospitals, etc.

After determining a budget at the municipal level, a legislative appropriation determines how the monies will be collected and distributed. After that, a tax authority levies the tax. An appeal is permitted. Equalization is then considered by a board of equalizers to assure fair treatment. Then a tax rate is determined by dividing the municipal budget by the assessment role of that municipality. Your tax rate x the assessed value of your property determines the tax you owe.

Some jurisdictions have both ad valorem and non-ad valorem property taxes, the latter representing a fixed charge (regardless of value) for items such as street lighting and storm sewer control.

In the US, another form of property tax is the personal property tax, which can target

* automobiles, boats, aircraft and other vehicles;
* other durable goods (though typically household goods and personal effects are exempt);
* inventory;
* intangible assets such as stocks and bonds.

In some states, it is permissible to separate the real estate tax, into two separate taxes -- one the land value and one on the building value.

Personal property taxes can be assessed at almost any level of government, though they are perhaps most commonly assessed by states.

Answer 9

"Ownership" of land is a myth, in my opinion.
For example, John Doe's great grandfather, JD, applied for a homestead in 1885, worked the land and earned his homestead.
John Doe's grandfather inherited the land from JD. John Doe's father inherited the land from his father. John Doe inherited the land from his father. He is now the "owner" of the land. John Doe has been unable to pay his property taxes for x # of years. The land now becomes property of the state.
I don't call that ownership. Do you?

Answer 10

If someone come and occupy your land, do you call police ?
If you own an island and some other country takes it over, does the military get it back for you ?
Who help you to uphold the ownership of your properties ? Volunteers or some paid personnel of your government ?

That should answer your question.