Owner Occupant vs. Non-Owner Occupant Property Taxes on Residential Property

[William Hochstedler]

My in-laws inherited a property in West Virginia.  In a soft market they decided to rent it instead of selling.  When the taxman found out that it was a rental the property taxes almost doubled.

What is the political calculus behind this?  Is this a "tax the rich" mentality?  How is this consistent in red counties/states?

Does anyone know which states and counties do this?  Does it happen in your state?

I can't any list with a state by state policy.  It would be an interesting list for out-of-state investors as well as these tax codes are effectively discouraging investment.

[Jeff Rabinowitz]

I can't say whether this happens in every county or city but this happens in every city I have owned property and I suspect it happens everywhere. The taxing authorities do it because they can. Since non residents cannot vote it is not very difficult to pass these laws. Everyone seems happy to tax the other guy. It is, essentially, taxation without representation but that is life in the land of the free.