Center for State Tax Policy

Property Taxes

The property tax is a tax on the market value of privately owned property, including land, cars, business inventory, etc. Although the property tax is the principal source of revenue for localities, broad consensus has not been reached on the basic issue of whether property taxes are regressive, proportional or progressive.

Property tax liability is calculated by multiplying the nominal property tax rate by the assessment ratio (the percentage of the value of the property that is taxed) by the value of the property.

Related Articles

North Carolina Tax Reform Options: A Guide to Fair, Simple, Pro-Growth Reform

January 23, 2013

State and Local Property Taxes Target Commercial and Industrial Property

November 20, 2012

2013 State Business Tax Climate Index: Property Tax Component

October 9, 2012

2013 State Business Tax Climate Index: Results

October 9, 2012

States Moving Away From Taxes on Tangible Personal Property

October 4, 2012

Special Report No. 198: Tax Freedom Day 2012

April 2, 2012

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing as Percentage of Median Home Value, by State, Calendar Year 2010

February 16, 2012

State Business Tax Climate Index–Property Tax Index, 2011-2012

January 25, 2012

Major Components of the State Business Tax Climate Index, FY 2012

January 25, 2012

Government Takes a Greater Share than Shareholders

November 2, 2011

Best and Worst States in Property Tax Administration

June 2, 2011

New York, New Jersey Lead Nation in Property Tax Burden

May 17, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes Paid, 2005 – 2009 (five-year average)

May 16, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Home Value, 2005 – 2009 (five-year average)

May 12, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Income, 2005 – 2009 (five-year average)

May 12, 2011

Census Bureau Releases 2010 State Tax Collection Data

April 5, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Property Taxes Paid, 2007 – 2009 (3-year average)

March 2, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Household Income, 2007 – 2009 (3-year average)

March 2, 2011

Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Home Value, 2007 – 2009 (three-year average)

March 2, 2011

New Online Tools from the Tax Foundation

February 7, 2011