What are the local and state laws surrounding property taxes?

Property taxes are taxes that are assessed and collected on real estate and personal property owned by individuals and businesses. In Washington, both local and state governments have laws governing property taxes. Local laws are set by individual counties, municipalities, and school districts. Each local government can set its own rate for collecting property taxes, within limits set by state law. Generally, the local agency will require property owners to report the value of the property each year and collect the property taxes due. State laws are set by the Washington State Legislature and generally cover issues relating to the assessment, collection, and distribution of property taxes. For example, state law sets the limits on the amount of property taxes that can be collected by local governments. Additionally, state law dictates the procedure for appealing a property tax assessment and the amount of time that a property owner has to pay their property taxes before they become delinquent. In addition, Washington also has a number of exemptions and deductions which can help reduce property taxes. These include exemptions for veterans, seniors, disabled persons, and property used for certain kinds of non-profit activities. Additionally, some local governments offer their own exemptions, such as reduced rates for local businesses and homeowners. Understanding both local and state laws surrounding property taxes is important for property owners in Washington in order to correctly evaluate and pay property taxes each year.

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