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Politicians’ property tax problems

March 9, 2010

When it comes to property taxes, it's not just you, me and a certain Motown star that have  issues. 

Politicians do, too.

The new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Michigan Democrat
Sandy Levin, last week repaid a Maryland property tax credit that he had erroneously
received from Montgomery County.


The tax break was a one-time-only benefit for owner-occupied homes and
Levin, reports the
the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, does not live in the house.

The
Congressman's office said that the home had been inadvertently
misclassified when Levin's share of the property was transferred into a
trust.


Levin's chief of staff told the newspaper that the Congressman "has written a check of $690 to the County and
clarified and confirmed once again to them that the correct
classification of the … property is 'Not a Principal Residence.'"

Must be something in the Committee water: Levin has the W&M gavel because Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is
taking a leave of absence from that post while ethical questions, including unpaid taxes on Caribbean rental property, are sorted out by his House colleagues.

Levin also is now the tax-writing committee's chair because Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), who was acting Ways and Means
chairman for a day (sounds like a Capitol Hill game show!), also had some political perception issues, as well as a Maryland property tax
problem last
year.

Of course, property tax problems know no political party boundaries.

Remember the housing issues the McCains faced during the 2008 presidential campaign? 

Back then, John and Cindy owned multiple properties and encountered a property tax issue with one of those pieces of real estate.

Yep, homeownership can variously be a boon or a boondoggle for all of us.

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Comments
  • Property Tax Loans
    16 years ago Reply

    This is correct. Counties are being devastated as they try to find new ways to collect on unpaid property taxes. One state, Texas in particular passed legislation last year to allow Property Tax Loans have been a help to many Texans. This has helped many homeowners who are unable to refi, pay their property taxes quickly without the high fees and interest most counties charge.I expect to see property taxes remain the issue of several pieces of legislation as lawmaker try to find ways to ease taxpayer burden.

  • Property Tax Loan
    15 years ago Reply

    Yes, the Texas law covering tax lending has put over $100 million a year back into local taxing jurisdictions. Other large states are looking at Texas style property tax lending with great interest.

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