The fraud that is property tax

[mystery-ak]

The fraud that is property tax

This form of government has become destructive to my right to life, liberty, and property, so I’d like to dissolve these political bonds now.

Olivia Murray | July 27, 2026

I have a lot of issues with property tax—so many that one essay in a weekly newsletter does not provide ample space to flesh them all out—so I’m just going to focus on one, and that’s how the system flourishes through intentional fraud.

A few months back, I received a little postcard from my local city government telling me that my tax rate was going up because they’d now be using an appraised value of $346,000 to determine my assessed value. The notice also included a way to protest this amount if I, as the homeowner, felt it to be inaccurate, which I certainly knew it to be.

So, I called the number, and the man on the phone offered me a way to “knock it all the way down” to a lower number. I quickly did the math, and it amounted to about a $15 difference annually, so I politely declined. He then noted that I could appear before the board and make my case, and I opted for that route.

A few weeks later, I received a notice in the mail that my appointment with the board had been scheduled for—the following day. Now, thank goodness that piece of mail wasn’t delayed and that I actually was in town to make the meeting. (Seems intentional, doesn’t it?)

Anyway, I quickly got all my facts together.

We all know the basics of appraisals: Your home’s value depends on its size, its condition, how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, its location, etc.

more
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/the-fraud-that-is-property-tax/

[DefiantMassRINO]

The appraisers base the $/sq ft/acre by recent home sales.

The residential property tax is a unrealized capital gains tax, irresepective of income.

I could not afford to buy my home at recent real estate values. But, I am taxed as if I earn enough to pay for something I could not truly afford.

The nominal Mass State Income Tax rate is about 5%.  The sales tax and meals tax is 6.125%.  My local property tax is 8% - 10% of my annual gross income ... before payroll deductions.

[mountaineer]

I know that there must be some funding mechanism if we're going to expect our counties to provide services like schools, libraries, fire/police/ems, road repairs, parks, and the like, but I sure don't know what it is. I know we're darn tired of paying taxes on real estate we've owned mortgage-free for the past 17 years, and vehicles on which we paid tax when we registered them (including a 102-year-old car that is driven on public roadways fewer than 10 miles a week, and only in good weather, at that).

[Bigun]

I know that there must be some funding mechanism if we're going to expect our counties to provide services like schools, libraries, fire/police/ems, road repairs, parks, and the like, but I sure don't know what it is. I know we're darn tired of paying taxes on real estate we've owned mortgage-free for the past 17 years, and vehicles on which we paid tax when we registered them (including a 102-year-old car that is driven on public roadways fewer than 10 miles a week, and only in good weather, at that).

Point of retail sale only sales tax.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The best thing government here has done in awhile is to shield property tax inflation for retirees.

These are the people who are likely to stay put and are not earning any additional income.

[Bigun]

Government is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs (the private sector)!







No telling what it is today after Obamacare!

[Free Vulcan]

What concerns me most is that in a severe downturn people in property tax states won't be able to pay them, so they are confiscated and sold for a song, enabling the FedGov to come in with worthless Fed bucks and snap them up.

And viola, collectivist ownership.

[andy58-in-nh]

Point of retail sale only sales tax.

Something like that, yes.

Consumption taxes are the only truly fair way to raise revenue for government expenditures.

Income taxes hinder investment, productivity and job creation, while disincentivizing labor.

Corporate taxes are a ruse, as companies only collect such taxes in the form of higher prices for goods and services for customers, lower wages for employees, lower compensation for vendors and business partners, and in the case of publicly-traded corporations: lower stock prices, dividends and bond yields. (Good luck explaining that to a socialist).

Property taxes hurt home values, hinder real estate transactions, and punish owners, especially those living on fixed incomes. 

[DefiantMassRINO]

That's not fair to young working families.

Older persons require more emergency services for medical issues.

This is intergenerational economic descrimination/warfare that is fueling the rise of DSA among young people.

The best thing government here has done in awhile is to shield property tax inflation for retirees.

These are the people who are likely to stay put and are not earning any additional income.

[mountaineer]

I agree that sales/consumption tax makes more sense than property tax, @Bigun @andy58-in-nh

[Bigun]

Something like that, yes.

Consumption taxes are the only truly fair way to raise revenue for government expenditures.

Income taxes hinder investment, productivity and job creation, while disincentivizing labor.

Corporate taxes are a ruse, as companies only collect such taxes in the form of higher prices for goods and services for customers, lower wages for employees, lower compensation for vendors and business partners, and in the case of publicly-traded corporations: lower stock prices, dividends and bond yields. (Good luck explaining that to a socialist).

Property taxes hurt home values, hinder real estate transactions, and punish owners, especially those living on fixed incomes.

 

[IsailedawayfromFR]

That's not fair to young working families.

Older persons require more emergency services for medical issues.

This is intergenerational economic descrimination/warfare that is fueling the rise of DSA among young people.

We older people were young once and had to shoulder the same issue of property taxes the same way.

Did you read my remark?

Younger people can carry inflation by nature of having a job and can work extra jobs if need be.  Older people generally cannot.

Younger people move more frequently so the cost basis moves upward for them,  but not for older people who stay put.

Property taxes tend to go toward schools, so why should older people have to contribute to that?  BTW, that is the main reason why property taxes are frozen for the elderly.

Why mix up health issues here as we are discussing property taxes, right?

Seems you want to bring up the whole shenanigans of older people not being as productive and dependent, so they deserve higher health premiums, weaker soclial security and medicare, eh?  If that is your premise, why not just go for assisted suicide and be done with them?

If you want to attack a group of people, don't go after those who were productive but due to age no longer can be.

Go after those who are unproductive in spite of being younger, such as a lot of those on disability who refuse to get a job and live off taxpayer tit.
@DefiantMassRINO

[DefiantMassRINO]

Older persons can get reverse-mortgages on their homes to tap into the unrealized capital gains on their homes to pay the same property taxes for the same availability of services as everyone else.

If they do not have home equity with which to pay local property taxes, they should sell the property and move an affordable appartment, if one exists.

Young working families have to move when they can no longer afford property taxes on their homes. 

Why should young working families be the victims of reverse age discrimination at the hands of a protected class determined by age?  That's reverse age-discrimination ... affirmative action for older persons.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

My mortgage when from $2000 to $2400 in a month, because of reappraisal. If we hadn't successfully fought a budget, I assume it would be higher.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

That's not fair to young working families.

Older persons require more emergency services for medical issues.

This is intergenerational economic descrimination/warfare that is fueling the rise of DSA among young people.

Agree 100% however, i don't just support lowering (or getting rid of) property taxes for only young people, but for all people.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Point of retail sale only sales tax.

And homes would be included at that at the point of sale only imo.