Is Property Tax theft? (politicians, Illinois, retire, government)

[greywar]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Part of the idea of property tax, which a lot of people forget, is to disincentivize hoarding, and keep land use as productive and efficient as possible. If no one ever had any incentive to sell their land, you would have low turnover and bad land use overall

this is a great response. But I just feel like people should be able to actually own their own shelter. But I don't have a good response to this beyond "I would like" because what you say is true. I feel like we should not tax the necessities of life-and shelter is one of them. But I see the issue that you bring up very clearly.

Maybe allow the first 1/4 acre that is owned and lived in by a person as being tax free. Because honestly.....thats not hoarding if you have to live there.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by MongooseHugger

I mean, I don't think the Founders would like the idea of having to pay the government a sum of money, in some places as high as $15K/year, for the privilege of owning their own house, and that if they didn't pay, the government could take their paycheck or even the house itself.

No, its rent. Don’t pay it, you will be evicted.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MongooseHugger

I mean, I don't think the Founders would like the idea of having to pay the government a sum of money, in some places as high as $15K/year, for the privilege of owning their own house, and that if they didn't pay, the government could take their paycheck or even the house itself.

Maybe not, but they didn't seem to have a problem with property taxes since they predated the Revolution.

The History of Property Taxes - Tax Ease

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Part of the idea of property tax, which a lot of people forget, is to disincentivize hoarding, and keep land use as productive and efficient as possible. If no one ever had any incentive to sell their land, you would have low turnover and bad land use overall

I'd consider that an antiquated way of looking at land. We need a lot of land to in fact be "left alone" so to speak for conservation purposes today. I see plenty of bad land use caused by property taxes. Like the big clearcuts that were done near my property to pay the taxes. That land will never be the nice forest it was previously. The good seed sources are gone, it's coming back as a raspberry and pin cherry thicket.

[No_Recess]

All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft.

[boxus]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Part of the idea of property tax, which a lot of people forget, is to disincentivize hoarding, and keep land use as productive and efficient as possible. If no one ever had any incentive to sell their land, you would have low turnover and bad land use overall

Fine then, apply it to all property except a person's home.

[AnesthesiaMD]

I dont like taxes in general, but stuff does have to be paid for. And as long as it has to be paid for, I prefer property taxes to income taxes. At least with property taxes, the person paying has some choice in the matter.

You can choose to live in whatever size home you can afford, and pay property taxes accordingly. I choose not to upgrade my home, not because I cant afford to, but because I am content paying the amount of taxes I am currently paying, and I do not want to pay more. So, unlike income taxes, at least I have some choice and some control over the amount of taxes I pay.

Unfortunately, my state income taxes are high, but they would be a lot higher if there were no property taxes because the state would have to subsidize all of the local expenses that my property taxes go towards.

[Drewjdeg]

Originally Posted by No_Recess

All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft. All tax is theft.

Maybe should you vote then, can't complain if you don't do anything about it.

[gentlearts]

Of course not. The cost of living in a civilized society is determined by your elected officials.
People who pay $15k, or more for the same services as I pay $2k for, have the choice of either moving, or voting differently.
Do the folks getting f*d over get more services that I do? No. Maybe they even get less.

[jacqueg]

But the roads and sewers and schools and police and fire departments and libraries and parks have to paid for somehow. If not a property tax, then what?

I understand the complaints about property taxes, but we're talking about a nexus here - paying taxes to pay for the services required for you to live where you do. After all, in any area, you can find broken-down neighborhoods, some even in this day and age without paved streets. How many people here choose to live in those neighborhoods? Both the property price and the taxes would be cheaper than your average ranchburger.