Tax Data
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. In 2004, state and local governments across the United States collected an estimated $318 billion in property taxes. Approximately 97 percent of this total, $308 billion, was collected by local government units including counties, cities, and school districts.
Additional questions about property taxes? Call (202) 464-6200.
Tax Data from The Tax Foundation
- State and Local Property Tax Collections Per Household and Per Capita by State, Fiscal Year 2005, February 6, 2008
- Local Property Tax Collections Per Household, Fiscal Year 2005, February 5, 2008
- Property Taxes on Owner Occupied Housing by State, 2006, September 12, 2007
- Property Taxes on Owner Occupied Housing by County, 2006, September 12, 2007
- State Property Tax Collections by State, 2005-2006, June 18, 2007
- Change in Per Capita State and Local Property Taxes from 2000 to 2005, May 15, 2007