When receiving property tax notices, some owners may notice errors in the amount or even the property. A situation from which it is sometimes difficult to extricate oneself.
This is an expense that can be heavy for owners. Property tax has seen a significant increase in many cities in 2022 and in previous years. This because of inflation, but also of the almost total abolition of the housing tax on primary residences. Faced with this shortfall, some municipalities fall back on this levy. In this already complicated context, some owners can sometimes find themselves faced with a rather absurd situationeven very problematic, financially.
It may indeed happen that the administration makes an error in attributing a property to the wrong person, or is mistaken about its size and therefore the amount to be paid. The latter will then receive a notice of property tax to be paid. One could say to oneself that there is only to prevent the tax service concerned from the misunderstanding. But it is much more complex.
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Difficult to prove your good faith in taxes
Indeed, in this matter, the burden of proof lies with the individual, not the administration. It may seem logical that the state does not have to prove that you owe them money. But the taxpayer may therefore find himself having to demonstrate that he does not own something. A task whose Kafkaesque character is easily understood. It may then be necessary to request a property statement or a card to get the identity of the real ownerexplained a specialized lawyer to the Figaro. You can also try to find the real owner to ask him to intervene.
Another situation that seems grotesque, when it comes to contesting the amount of a property tax, the owner must first pay it. This can quickly represent several hundred euros. The property tax corresponds to a percentage set by the municipality of the annual cadastral rental value of the property. It therefore amounts to thousands of euros. It may then be necessary to file an appeal for reimbursement after the event. Not paying is tantamount to taking the risk of an increase, and then having to try, without guarantee, to also be reimbursed for this amount.