property tax problems

[t_devil49]

we live in north vernon, indiana. our son owns this mobile home we live in. he says he wants to remove both decks because it costs him more in taxes. there is one in the back and one in the front. by indiana law do they charge more tax money for decks built onto your home?? please answer soon thank you so much. also where can i go to look up this stuff myself to prove or disprove this?

[Seanscott]

Any home improvement adds to the value of the home, and therefore increases the property tax.

Indiana property tax bills run a full year behind, so if he takes the decks off now, and asks for a re-evaluation of the property, he won't see a smaller tax bill until May 10th of 2003 if he's lucky. Most likely he'll see it in May of 2004, since they send a full years bill every April.

I added a deck and my taxes went up about $100 for the year. How much of that was an increase in property value and how much attributed to the deck, I don't know. But I did have to submit a diagram and get a building permit.

[Seanscott]

If he owns the home free & clear, tell him to go take out a mortgage on it. He will get a mortgage exemption on his property tax bill and it will probably save him more than if he removes the decks.