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Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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Long story, but currently a hot debate in my circle of friends: would you report someone you knew was wrongly claiming a homestead property tax exemption? The property tax savings is significant.
Long story, but currently a hot debate in my circle of friends: would you report someone you knew was wrongly claiming a homestead property tax exemption? The property tax savings is significant.
I would definitely report the person. You lose a lot of weight if you do it anonymously, though.
Underpaying taxes is theft. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's", even if Caesar is the county clerk.
I would if I knew it to be a fact. That's money that's not being paid and it affects the community as a whole. Makes no difference whether the person is nice or a jerk, it's their obligation just as it's yours and mine.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Some taxing agencies will not pursue an anonymous claim, but if you give up your identity, most are subject to public disclosure. So the "caught" party can request all records of emails/letters/calls reporting fraud during that time period and find out who you are.
Long story, but currently a hot debate in my circle of friends: would you report someone you knew was wrongly claiming a homestead property tax exemption? The property tax savings is significant.
Would you report your neighbor’s house being burglarized? How is stealing from the general public any different?
Did the property owner in question disclose it or brag about it? Or, did you examine what the local county agency shows on a public information website and deduce this for yourself?
I ask because if you know it from them report it. If you deduce it from public records, make sure you are correct because some counties can be very lax in updating information on recent transfers. If the info reflects the homestead for longer than a year, report it. I have reported property owners who do not file rental disclosure on properties.
Different municipalities may have different levels of enforcement checks to go with reporting, but from my experience the county employees / departments responsible for recording are often overwhelmed or not the best at being thorough because it is usually based upon property owners self reporting.
No. It's none of my business. Whatever tax cheating that happens is between that homeowner, the DA, and the County. I pay taxes for them to do their job so I don't have to. It's not my job to enforce the tax code - it's theirs. If they didn't and lost a bunch of tax money, that's on them. If they wrongfully granted the exemption in the first instance, that's also on the County.
Going on self-interest, I also want nothing to do with any investigation that might result, I don't want to go and testify or attend investigations or give statements. I also don't want any fallback, legally or socially, if I'm wrong. Plausible deniability.
Last edited by albert648; 08-30-2021 at 06:26 PM..
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