11-05-2007, 02:21 AM
quote:
Thanks, Hotzcatz!
yes, they are independent of Building, and by their own words, a whole lot more on top of things.
I'm not sure I follow the logic about the vacant land in this case. I'm asking about an addition on to an existing home.
Vacant land gets taxed at a higher rate than improved residential (depending on zoning).
When you build a house and apply an exemption, taxes go way down.
However, when you add value to an existing house, you get taxed for the extra square footage. The tax rates are based on values for your area, and the rates are multiplied by square footage -- with different rates for interior space, covered lanai, and uncovered, and accessory buildings.
Why should they be able to raise your taxes for, say, 400 sq feet of garage that doesn't yet exist but is only a pulled permit? That confuses me. After all, you are not technically allowed to use the square footage of an addition until it is finaled.
note: I always get taken aback when someone says to me:
"you'd have to ask your tax person." I've always done my own taxes; am I alone there? But now I do use TurboTax. Normally if I have questions on Hawai`i real property tax law, I call the Assessor and ask, but it's the weekend.
Thanks for the feedback on what the "inspection" is like.
That's an area where I might not get complete truth and accuracy by calling the office.
In my experience, and it seemed because building was moving so fast - the tax office was not increasing UNTIL the bldg was finalled - i.e. the paperwork hit their office on the SF... these days of course it has slowed down and like unpermitted or "under permitted" structures that have residential exemptions on them, I think the tax dept seems to be getting caught up.
But call the Assessor now that it's Monday morning - they will open momentarily at 7:45 AM.....
Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
808 217-7578
http://bluewaterpm.125mb.com/index.html
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