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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
ASSESSMENT
& APPRAISAL INFORMATION
Property TaxesProperty (ad valorem) taxes are taxes on real and/or personal property. Real property includes land and improvements including your home. Personal property refers to items which are movable or not permanently fixed to the land. The Revenue Commissioner is responsible to determine property value which by law must be set at the “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 AppraisalAssessment of PropertyEach
taxpayer is required by Alabama Law (Code Ş40-7-1) 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 and/or she 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 ClassificationThe Revenue Commissioner is responsible to assess and
collect property taxes. In the preceding section you were informed that
property is appraised at “fair market value.” In 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 or 0.001. Tax CollectionState and county taxes are due every year the first of October and are delinquent after the 31st of December. Payment may be made as follows:
If you purchased property during the year, you need to make sure the taxes are paid by December 31. The tax bill will normally 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 propertyNew property owners should not rely on their attorney, real estate agent, or other representative to assess their property. This is your responsibility, as the new owner, to see that all the necessary steps have been completed. The steps are: Make sure that you deed is recorded in the Record Room of
the Probate Office. This has usually been done by your attorney, if one
represented you at closing. If you received your deed at and time stamped by
the probate Judge’s Office it will have a Real Property Book and page on its
front page. Come to the Revenue Commissioner’s Office assess the
property in your name. Claim any exemptions due you. If you have an escrow account with your mortgage company
that pays your property taxes, they will request the tax information from the
Revenue Commissioner. However, should you receive a bill on property which
your mortgage company should pay, please forward it directly to them. Report all changes in ownership and/or address promptly. Exemptions (
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