About once a week someone will ask me how it is that I know the things that I know. They frequently have this puzzled look on their face that will tip me off that The Question is coming.
And, of course, the answer is that I have already made that Mistake at least once. In some cases, once was not enough. I had to go back and try it again. Having done it wrong, I am in a position to report to those who are on the verge of perhaps making the mistake themselves.
Many years ago, I learned the hard way to not take those chain e-mails at face value. I hit the forward button and sent on an email telling people to delete a file off their computer. It was a hoax. It caused massive amounts of trouble for me as well as for several people who received the forwarded message from me. That experience taught me to be more careful. That is also when I learned about Snopes!
http://www.snopes.com/
The main value of Snopes is that they have invested the time and energy in chasing down the background of a number of these chain-emails. Lots of times, there is absolutely no basis for the email. It is just another urban legend. If I find the email in Snopes, that is the end of it for me. I do NOT pass it on.
If I don't find it in Snopes, I will cut and paste the first sentence into the search box on Google and see where that leads...
The main problem I have had is what do I do to tip off the person who sent it to me? The Universe has given me graphic proof over time that it is NOT my assignment to straight everyone out. So, usually I just leave these emails alone. Not always. Just usually. I had an office manager at one point who was not a very sophisticated email user. She would step off into one of these email traps about every 3 months or so. I finally went around the corner and physically showed her how to find Snopes on her computer. The emails stopped.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Homestead Affivit Scams
Well, maybe calling it a Scam is over kill.....How about "Creative Capitalism"?
In January, there are companies who will send out copies of the homestead affidavit to everyone who bought a new house in Texas during the prior year, offering to take care of filing the affidavit for the new homeowner "for the modest cost of $_______".
There isn't a cost to file the Affidavit. But, these people are making a nice living doing it for people.
To file a homestead affidavit, just print out the Affidavit, sign it before a notary, and mail it to the Tax Assessor in your county. To find a notary, call your bank or go back to the title company where you closed the purchase of your home.
In January, there are companies who will send out copies of the homestead affidavit to everyone who bought a new house in Texas during the prior year, offering to take care of filing the affidavit for the new homeowner "for the modest cost of $_______".
There isn't a cost to file the Affidavit. But, these people are making a nice living doing it for people.
To file a homestead affidavit, just print out the Affidavit, sign it before a notary, and mail it to the Tax Assessor in your county. To find a notary, call your bank or go back to the title company where you closed the purchase of your home.
Homestead Affidavit
Property tax exemption status is determined on January 1 of the tax year. If you live in the house as your principal residence as of January 1, then you are entitled to a Homestead Exemption for that tax year.
The Homestead Exemption will reduce the total tax bill by an amount between 15% and 20%. We are talking serious money here.
Sometimes new homeowners get so overwelmed by the process of homeownership, they may miss out on filing the Affidavit the first year. All is not lost. The taxing authority will apply the exemption to one prior tax year. The critical thing is to get it filed!
The affidavit has to be signed before a notary. Once it is on file, that it it. The taxing authority assumes that you continue to use it has your principal residence until you sell the property.
To print out the form go to: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-114.pdf
The Homestead Exemption will reduce the total tax bill by an amount between 15% and 20%. We are talking serious money here.
Sometimes new homeowners get so overwelmed by the process of homeownership, they may miss out on filing the Affidavit the first year. All is not lost. The taxing authority will apply the exemption to one prior tax year. The critical thing is to get it filed!
The affidavit has to be signed before a notary. Once it is on file, that it it. The taxing authority assumes that you continue to use it has your principal residence until you sell the property.
To print out the form go to: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-114.pdf
How much is the Homestead Exemptions
Because every taxing jurisdiction decides how much they are going to allow for the Homestead Exemption, there isn't an easy answer for how much the Homestead Exemption will reduce your tax bill. In the dark ages when I first got exposed to this information, the Exemption was a flat dollar number. At some point, it got shifted to a precentage of value. Expect that precentage to come in between 15% and 20% of the total assessed value.
Texas is one of the few states that doesn't cap the valuation.
For a good overview on the Homestead Exemption, go see: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html
Texas is one of the few states that doesn't cap the valuation.
For a good overview on the Homestead Exemption, go see: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html
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