Tax is a financial charge which is charged by the government so that it can put that money or spend it on public expenditure and welfare. Tax is imposed on a person or a legal entity. A person who pays tax is called a taxpayer. One who fails to pay the tax is subjected to be punished by law. Tax can be of any type, be it a direct tax, indirect tax, wealth tax, property tax, Goods and services tax etc. Real estate and Property Tax comes under the category of Property tax.
Real Estate Tax vs Property Tax
The main difference between Real Estate Tax and Property Tax is that Real estate tax is those which are related to the land, like buildings and their material. Whereas Property Tax is those which are owned privately, it can be moved, and it is not related to the land. Property Tax includes furniture, cars, jewellery etc.
Real Estate tax consists of building and land and everything which are a part of natural resources in a piece of land, whether it be plants, crops, water etc. These things are not movable and are also attached to the land. Real Estate Tax is very different from property tax because here, assets can’t be moved. Interest vested on the items is called real estate. Real estate Taxes are the real property taxes, and it is usually charged by the municipalities of a locality.
Property Taxes are calculated on how much value is there on your property. It is also called a millage rate. Property Tax is charged by the government depending on which area property is located. It can be charged by the central government, state government, municipal corporation etc. Property Tax is an umbrella term that includes real estate tax, rent tax, land value tax as well. Property tax can be charged once a year as its assets are movable.
Comparison Table Between Real Estate Tax and Property Tax
| Parameters of comparison | Real Estate Tax | Property Tax |
| Nature | Related with the land. | Related with the property. |
| Period | Monthly | Annually |
| Type | Real Property | Private Property |
| Categories | Apartment, Terraced house, Duplex, Villas, Haveli etc. | Land, personal property improvements to land, and intangible property. |
| Examples | Buildings, crops, houses, garages etc. | Cars, boats, jewellery, electronic devices, art etc. |
What is Real Estate Tax?
Real Estate Tax is permanent. It is also termed real property. Real estate Tax includes land and anything which is built upon it or is a part of natural resources that cannot be moved. Examples include houses, buildings, condos, industrial buildings, garages, as well as the ground beneath them. Most commonly, the real Estate tax is often confused with property taxes. People consider both as same, but they are not the same.
The real estate tax is a part of a type of Property tax only. This tax helps municipalities, government authorities to keep a record and check on the real estate, and also it helps them to raise funds for their budgets. Real estate taxes are charged on different types of buildings and houses. Because real estate property includes residential real estate as well. Residential real estate consists of many types depending upon the residences as well as neighbouring land.
It includes apartments, condominiums, cooperative, multi-family houses, detached houses, semi-detached houses etc. The real estate tax is mostly levied on America. It is very popular there. In India, there is no such special tax for real estate. Different types of Rewal estate Tax includes Real Property Tax, Documentary Transfer Tax, Property Transfer Tax (for Charter Cities), Property-Related Fees and Parcel Tax.
What is Property Tax?
Since ancient times, Property tax has existed, and it was charged by the then existing governments from its citizens. It was in different forms like in the form of crops or cattle, land oil etc. A person who collected property tax in those times was called tax assessors, and they were treated with respect. In the Medieval period, in England, it was very common for peasants to pay the tax to the monarchy, which they have rented from their owners. Records also suggest that how taxes were imposed on the property.
From then to today’s time, different countries have different laws regarding property tax. There are few countries in the world where property tax doesn’t exist only. These countries include Kuwait, Cook Island, Mauritania, Greenland, Palau etc. Often this country is termed a tax-heaven country. Because tax is exempted from here. Property Tax is collected annually by the governments. Sometimes, multiple governmental organizations can levy taxes at the same time.
There are four broad categories of property tax which includes land, personal property, intangible property and improvements to the land. Property tax is movable, and it is called ad valorem tax i.e.tax is given depending upon the value of the property at the market price. It is calculated in percentage as per mil, i.e. mill rate, and it is divided by 1000. In India, Property tax is also called house tax, and it is imposed on the custodian of the property.
Main Differences Between Real Estate Tax and Property Tax
- Real Estate Taxes are paid to anything which is attached or related to the land. Property Tax is the tax that is paid on the property which is owned privately and is not attached to the land.
- Real Estate Taxes are paid on a monthly basis to the tax assessors of your region locally. Property Taxes are paid annually to the government authorities depending upon the moving assets.
- Real Estate Tax includes real property. Property Tax includes private property.
- Real Estate Tax can be categorised depending upon its types of buildings and houses such as Apartment, Terraced house, Duplex, Villas, Haveli etc. Property Tax can be categorised into four types land, improvements to land, personal property and intangible property.
- Examples of Real estate Tax include Buildings, crops, houses, garages etc. Examples of property Tax include cars, boats, jewellery, electronic devices, art etc.
Conclusion
Both Real Estate Tax and Property Tax are controlled by the government of a country. Both the taxes should be paid to the respected authorities of a region. Both the taxes contribute to the development of the country and are also responsible for economic growth. It also makes the country financially strong. Both the taxes are connected. Often it is mistaken as one. In many countries, Property Tax includes Real estate Tax. But in America, Real Estate Tax plays a very important role for them. Property Tax is an umbrella term that includes the Real Estate Tax.
References
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00216188.pdf
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.17310/ntj.2003.1.03