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Revenue Commissioner’s Office |
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PHOTO |
Revenue Commissioner: Joey Masters |
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The mission of the
Marshall County Revenue Commissioner is to bill, collect, invest, borrow,
safeguard and disburse monies and properties. We do this on behalf of the
County, other government agencies and entities, and private individuals as
specified by law. The Department also provides enforcement, consulting,
estate administration, and public information services. |
Abstract
of Assessment, Exemptions and Advalorem Taxes
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ASSESSMENT
& APPRAISAL INFORMATION
Property Taxes Property (ad valorem) taxes are taxes on real and/or personal property. Real property includes land and improvements. Personal property refers to irems which are movable or not permanently fixed to the land. The Revenue Commissioner is responsible to determine property value which must, by law, be set according to “fair and reasonable market value.” Even though your property may not be for sale, the local appraiser must set the value of the property as if it were “sold” in an “arms length” transaction between a “willing buyer and a willing seller,” neither being under any pressure to buy or sell. Property Appraisal Marshall County has approximately 50,000 separate parcels of land that must be individually appraised for tax purposes. Each parcel of land must be described on a property record card. Characteristics about land and buildings are listed and valued separately and become the basis for establishing fair market value. This information is found in the Revenue Commissioner’s Office. Assessment of Property Each taxpayer is required by Alabama Law (Code #40-7-1) to provide a complete list of all property which is owned. The person acquiring property is responsible for reporting to the Revenue Commissioner a complete legal description of the property and should at that time claim any exemptions for which he is eligible. The Revenue Commissioner should be furnished a correct mailing address for all properties. Thereafter, the property owner must report any changes in ownership and any improvements or deletions to the Revenue Commissioner. Property Classification In a joint effort, the Revenue Commissioner and Tax Collector are responsible to assess and collect property taxes. In the preceding section you were informed that property is appraised at “fair market value.” In Alabama, property is classified as: Class I Utility 30% Class II All other property 20% Class III Farm property and owner Occupied res. property 10% Class IV Motor Vehicles 15% You multiply the appraised value of property by the proper classification to determine the assessed value. Taxes are based on assessed value, less exemption, times a millage rate. A mill is one-tenth of one cent (.001). Tax Collection 1. State and county taxes are due every year the first of October and are delinquent after the 31st of December. 2. Payment may be made as follows:
3. If you purchased property during the year, you need to make sure the taxes are paid. The tax bill will usually be in the previous owner’s name. You are responsible for taxes on all property you own, no matter how the tax bill may be listed. What to do when you buy property New property owners should not rely on their attorney, real estate agent, or other representative to assess their property. The responsibility is yours, as the new owner, to see that all the necessary steps have been completed. The steps are: 1.
Make sure that you deed is recorded in the Probate
Office. This has usually been done by your attorney, if one represented you
at closing. 2.
Come to the Revenue Commissioner’s Office assess the
property in your name. 3.
Claim any exemptions due you. 4.
If you have an escrow account with your mortgage company
to pay your property taxes, they will request the tax information from the
Tax Collector. However, should you receive a bill on property which your
mortgage company should pay, please forward it directly to them. 5.
Report all changes in ownership and/or address promptly. Exemptions (Homestead apply to Owner-occupied dwelling) Homestead Exemption I is for persons under age 65 and applies to state and county property taxes. The amount is $4,000 for the state tax and $2,000 for county taxes. Homestead Exemption II is for persons over age 65, or who are blind or totally disabled, whose adjusted gross income is less than $12,000 annually. The exemption is for all state taxes and county taxes up to $5,000 in assessed value. Homestead Exemption III is for persons over age 65 or blind or totally disabled. This exemption is from all property rates if their taxable income is less than $7,500. Current use value is an exemption which applies to Class III property. Upon application, if the property meets conditions set by law, property is taxed based on value to the owner without consideration of the potential value of the property. Ask you Revenue Commissioner if you desire further information about current use. Industrial exemptions are also available. To qualify the owner of a property must file with the Revenue Commissioner a decree from the Commissioner of Revenue and a resolution of the County Commission. This exemption does not apply to the school taxes or hospital tax. MARSHALL COUNTY MILLAGE RATES State Tax General Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 Special Soldier Fund. . . . . . . . . 1.0 Special School Fund . . . . . . . . . 3.0 County TaxGeneral Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 Road & Bridge Fund. . . . . . . . . 2.4 Courthouse & Jail Fund . . . . . . .6 County-Wide School Fund. . . . 4.5 Hospital Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 District School Fund (3). . . . . . 13.0 81, 82, 3A. . . . . . . . . . 3.5 Municipal TaxAlbertville. . . . . . . . 5.0 7.5 special Arab. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Boaz. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 7.5 special Guntersville. . . . . . . 6.0 9.0 special Grant. . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Total Millage Rate isCounty ($3.75 per $100). . . . . . 37.5 Albertville ($4.05 per $100). . . 40.5 Arab ($3.30 per $100). . . . . . . . 33.0 Boaz ($5.00 per $100). . . . . . . . 50.0 Guntersville ($4.30 per $100). . 43.0 Grant ($4.25 per $100) . . . . . . . 42.5 Taxes are based on assessed value times a millage rate. |