Okay, so my next-door neighbors are a cool bunch of law students who rent from a couple in the foreign service. Never met the owners in more than 2 years, and the house has been rented for at least 5 years. The couple is claiming the Homestead Exemption -- says so right there on the DC tax website.
Should I be annoyed about this? Report it? I can't decide.
I looked up a house on my block and the address given for the owner is in PG county yet they are claiming the homestead exemption...I haven't done anything about it so far. Should I?
I think that people claiming homestead deduction when they are not entitled is comparable to taking money out of your bank account, or stealing vegetables out of your garden. I have even seen cases where property that is vacant and falling apart is receiving the homestead deduction.
Honest taxpayers who comply with the law pay more taxes than they need to, because they are subsidizing these freeloaders. Report them by all means. I've done it before, and I would do it again.
Reporting these people is not mean spirited. If these people own property in Washington, DC that they are not living in, they can afford to pay their fair share. I mean foreign service officers? C'mon - they should be ashamed of themselves.
By all means report violations, but don't be too saddened if nothing happens. The District is horrendously bad at acting on such stuff -- just look at the incredible effort needed to get the District to consider declaring properties on H as vacant that haven't had anyone or anything inside in decades.
Also be sure to report vacant properties on your block here.
There are two properties on 3rd Street NE that are vacant, owned by people in Prince Georges County, receiving the Homestead Deduction, being taxed at the occupied rate rather than unoccupied rate, and for sale as commercial properties...
In June 2007, I reported 2 homes illegally getting Sr Citizen Exemption. 1st I called Tax Fraud Hotline, then printed out a form, filled it out and anonymously mailed it in. DC Tax office did investigate b/c Tax Rates went up and back taxes were billed to when the Sr Citizens died. WAPO has Obits going back for years. By all means REPORT TAX FRAUD!
11 comments:
Okay, so my next-door neighbors are a cool bunch of law students who rent from a couple in the foreign service. Never met the owners in more than 2 years, and the house has been rented for at least 5 years. The couple is claiming the Homestead Exemption -- says so right there on the DC tax website.
Should I be annoyed about this? Report it? I can't decide.
I looked up a house on my block and the address given for the owner is in PG county yet they are claiming the homestead exemption...I haven't done anything about it so far. Should I?
I think that people claiming homestead deduction when they are not entitled is comparable to taking money out of your bank account, or stealing vegetables out of your garden. I have even seen cases where property that is vacant and falling apart is receiving the homestead deduction.
Honest taxpayers who comply with the law pay more taxes than they need to, because they are subsidizing these freeloaders. Report them by all means. I've done it before, and I would do it again.
Reporting these people is not mean spirited. If these people own property in Washington, DC that they are not living in, they can afford to pay their fair share. I mean foreign service officers? C'mon - they should be ashamed of themselves.
what if i own two DC properties in which i spend equal amounts of time?
believe it or not, it's true.
sometimes i just have to get away from myself.
we're long gone from the era when one family owned one home, and spent their time there.
any tax folks out there that have an opinion? or folks that have two homes across the street from each other?
By all means report violations, but don't be too saddened if nothing happens. The District is horrendously bad at acting on such stuff -- just look at the incredible effort needed to get the District to consider declaring properties on H as vacant that haven't had anyone or anything inside in decades.
Poo Poo,
you can only have one principle residence and one homestead deduction.
I would imagine that both the DC and Federal government make exceptions for Foreign Serivce Officers and Military members who are posted overseas.
Also be sure to report vacant properties on your block here.
There are two properties on 3rd Street NE that are vacant, owned by people in Prince Georges County, receiving the Homestead Deduction, being taxed at the occupied rate rather than unoccupied rate, and for sale as commercial properties...
"sometimes i just have to get away from myself."
No comment.
poo poo,
here's a suggestion: why don't you sell both of your properties and move back to your native Iowa
In June 2007, I reported 2 homes illegally getting Sr Citizen Exemption. 1st I called Tax Fraud Hotline, then printed out a form, filled it out and anonymously mailed it in. DC Tax office did investigate b/c Tax Rates went up and back taxes were billed to when the Sr Citizens died. WAPO has Obits going back for years. By all means REPORT TAX FRAUD!
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