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property taxes

Kevin Fair is seen outside his home in Nebraska | Illustration Lex Villena; Courtesy of the Pacific Legal Foundation

property taxes

He Lost the Title to His Home Over a Small Property Tax Debt. Years Later, He's Finally Getting It Back.

A local government gave ownership of Kevin Fair's Nebraska house—and all of its value—to a private investor, in a practice known as home equity theft.

Billy Binion | 1.3.2025 4:25 PM

A hand presses the addition (+) button on a desk calculator. | Weerapat Wattanapichayakul | Dreamstime.com

Taxes

Brickbat: Going Up…and Up

Charles Oliver | 12.23.2024 4:00 AM

Map of the United States | Illustration: Lex Villena; Libux77

Taxes

Raising the SALT Cap Is a Gift to High-Tax States

Capping state and local tax deductions sparked a tax migration that rewarded pro-growth states. Raising the cap now would stall reform where it’s needed most.

Jared Dillian | 12.18.2024 11:00 AM

Dutch Colonial row houses in Chicago. | Jim Roberts | Dreamstime.com

Chicago

Brickbat: Chicago Turnaround

Charles Oliver | 12.2.2024 4:00 AM

A hand holding a house | Illustration: Ruangrit/iStock

Government abuse

Local Governments Are Seizing and Selling Homes Over Small Tax Debts

Home equity theft happens when governments auction off seized houses and keep the profits—even once the tax bill is paid.

Billy Binion | 10.21.2024 6:00 AM

John Stossel is seen next to a headline that says, "Retiree loses home over  tax bill" | Stossel TV

Property Rights

Governments Are Still Stealing People's Home Equity Over Modest Tax Debts

A handful of states use loopholes to get around a Supreme Court ruling that declared the practice unconstitutional.

John Stossel | 10.2.2024 7:30 AM

Kevin Fair | Illustration Lex Villena; Oleksandr Kulik Dreamstime.com; Pacific Legal Foundation

property taxes

This Nebraska Man Almost Lost His Home and All of Its Equity Over a Small Tax Debt. He Just Won in Court.

Kevin Fair fell behind on his property taxes in 2014. The local government eventually gave a private investor the deed to his home.

Billy Binion | 8.27.2024 4:54 PM

The Edmondson Community Organization in Baltimore | Illustration Lex Villena; ID 50872210 © Angeles Medrano Zamora | Dreamstime.com; Google Maps

Taxes

Baltimore's Tax Sales Are Robbing People of Their Equity

The Edmondson Community Organization accrued a modest property tax debt. The group paid dearly for that.

Billy Binion | 8.19.2024 5:09 PM

A home is seen behind strands of money | Illustration: Lex Villena; Oblachko

Property Rights

She Underpaid a Property Tax Bill. So the Government Seized Her Home, Sold It—and Kept the $102,636 Profit.

Chelsea Koetter is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to render the state's debt collection scheme unconstitutional.

Billy Binion | 7.26.2024 3:48 PM

Reason's trophies at the Southern California Journalism Awards | Illustration Lex Villena; Courtesy of Paul Detrick

Reason

Reason Wins 7 Southern California Journalism Awards

First-place finishes include an investigative piece on egregious misconduct in federal prison, a documentary on homelessness, best magazine columnist, and more.

Billy Binion | 6.24.2024 1:51 PM

Hinga Mbogo is seen in his auto repair shop | Institute for Justice

Zoning

Zoning Regulations Empower Control Freaks—and Bigots

The Institute for Justice has launched a project to reform land use regulation.

J.D. Tuccille | 5.15.2024 7:00 AM

A house is seen with 0 bills falling behind it | Illustration: Lex Villena; Oblachko

property taxes

This 70-Year-Old Woman Might Lose Her $377,000 Home Over a Small Tax Debt

The Supreme Court supposedly put an end to “home equity theft” last year. But some state and local governments have found a loophole.

Grady J. Block | 2.13.2024 1:20 PM

Voter casting a ballot in front of the Colorado state flag | DPST/Newscom

Elections

In Colorado, Voters Could Undo Key Component of TABOR Law

The "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" requires that the state return excess revenue to taxpayers. A ballot question could change that.

Eric Boehm | 11.7.2023 12:30 PM

Detroit, Michigan city skyline | Lindaparton/Dreamstime.com

Housing Policy

Is a Land Value Tax the Solution to Detroit's Messed Up Property Tax System?

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan argues that shifting taxes from homes to the land they sit on will encourage development and cut taxes for most homeowners. Local property tax activists aren't convinced.

Christian Britschgi | 11.7.2023 12:09 PM

dreamstime_xl_133807695 | Photo 133807695 © Job Garcia | Dreamstime.com

Big Government

Ethanol Subsidies Could Trip Up Debt Ceiling Negotiations

Plus: Home equity theft at the Supreme Court, New York shows how not to legalize marijuana, and more...

Eric Boehm | 4.26.2023 9:30 AM

topicspolicy | Photo: Geraldine Tyler; courtesy of Pacific Legal Foundation

property taxes

She Had $2,300 in Unpaid Taxes. The County Bilked Her for $25,000.

Geraldine Tyler's case is not unique; home equity theft is legal in Minnesota and 11 other states.

Billy Binion | 4.25.2023 7:00 AM

iconphotossix357406 | Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire ECK/Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire/Newscom

Subsidies

Minnesota Taxpayers Could Be Pillaged for $280 Million in Vikings' Stadium Upgrades

Taxpayers spent about $500 million to build U.S Bank stadium, which is just seven years old.

Eric Boehm | 4.3.2023 2:10 PM

Geraldine Tyler is seen at an assisted living facility | Courtesy of Pacific Legal Foundation

Supreme Court

They Fell Behind on Their Property Taxes. So the Government Sold Their Homes—and Kept the Profits.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear 94-year-old Geraldine Tyler's case challenging home equity theft.

Billy Binion | 1.17.2023 4:53 PM

Chicago skylines | Jaysi | Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Want To Know Why the Rent Is Too Damn High?

Charles Oliver | 12.23.2022 4:00 AM

swimming pool drone surveillance France taxes tax pools IRS | Photo 2721766 © Tomas Hajek | Dreamstime.com

Taxes

Artificial Intelligence Helps French Tax Authorities Find Thousands of Untaxed Swimming Pools

When taxing authorities get more resources and power, they will find ways to make everyone pay more.

Eric Boehm | 8.31.2022 2:40 PM

Two elections workers wearing face masks process bins full of ballots in an elections office | David Santiago/TNS/Newscom

Florida

Florida County Approves Bad Spanish Translation of Property Tax Ballot Measure

The Spanish text contains inaccurate translations of technical tax language and direct translations of phrases like "school resource officers," which could confuse voters.

Eric Bazail-Eimil | 8.11.2022 3:15 PM

Screen Shot 2022-05-03 at 4.26.17 PM | Stossel TV

Property Rights

The State Took Her Home Because She Missed $900 in Property Taxes

Tawanda Hall's house was worth $286,000 more than her overdue tax bill. There was nothing she could do about it.

John Stossel | 5.4.2022 4:01 PM

Thumbnail | Illustration: Lex Villena; Gage Skidmore, Yinan Zhang

wealth tax

Elizabeth Warren's Wealth Tax Would Hurt More Than Just the 'Tippy Top'

Wealth tax proponents claim only super rich people would be affected. But to raise the revenue Warren, Sanders, and Biden want, they'd have to tax the "working rich"—doctors, lawyers, and other hardworking high earners.

Liz Wolfe | 4.5.2022 8:15 AM

dreamstime_xl_17897253 | Photo <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-foreclosure-home-sale-real-estate-sign-image17897253">17897253</a> © <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/feverpitched_info">Feverpitched</a> - <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/foreclosure-20sign.html">Dreamstime.com</a>

Property Rights

A Nebraska County Took His $25,000 Property To Settle a $986 Tax Debt. Now the U.S. Supreme Court Could Get Involved.

Walter Barnette didn't know that his own land had been sold out from under him until it had already happened.

Eric Boehm | 9.10.2020 4:00 PM

150324284_l | photovs  (Follow)

Property Rights

Minneapolis Tells Residents With Riot-Wrecked Buildings They Can't Clean Up Until They've Paid Their 2020 Property Taxes in Full

After failing at the one thing people think they need from government, Minneapolis is getting tough on making damaged citizens pay up.

Brian Doherty | 8.13.2020 5:05 PM

dreamstime_xl_92820575 | ID 92820575 © Zimmytws | Dreamstime.com

Property Rights

County Wants Answers From Treasurer Who Seized Man's Home Over $8 Tax Bill

Officials in Oakland County, Michigan, are worried they could be on the hook for more than $30 million in payments to former homeowners victimized by an aggressive forfeiture scheme.

Eric Boehm | 7.24.2020 12:30 PM

Rafaeli

Property Rights

Michigan Supreme Court Rules Government Can't Seize Entire Value of Home Over Property Tax Delinquency Worth $8.41

The Court unanimously ruled such a tax "forfeiture" qualifies as a taking for which compensation must be paid.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.17.2020 9:40 PM

bsphotos032008 | Dennis Brack/Newscom

Property Rights

Michigan Supreme Court Rebukes County That Seized Home Over $8.41 Tax Debt

Uri Rafaeli was one of hundreds of Michigan homeowners to be victimized by the state's overly aggressive property tax forfeiture law.

Eric Boehm | 7.17.2020 3:55 PM

Michigan_Supreme_Court | Wiki Commons

Property Rights

County Says Seizing Home Over $8.41 Tax Debt Was OK Because Counties Need Money

"You have a situation where a person owed $8 and lost their house. I mean, how is that equitable?" asked Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein.

Eric Boehm | 11.8.2019 4:30 PM

zumaglobalthree242779 | Robin Nelson/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Property Rights

A Michigan Man Underpaid His Property Taxes By $8.41. The County Seized His Property, Sold It—and Kept the Profits.

A state law allows counties to effectively steal homes over unpaid taxes and keep the excess revenue for their own budgets.

Eric Boehm | 11.6.2019 7:40 AM

aiiphotos000109 | Aero-Imaging, Inc/Newscom

property taxes

Unions Aiming to Repeal California's Property Tax Caps

Californians' tax rates are among the nation's highest in almost every category, but their property tax levels have remained reasonable. That could change soon.

Steven Greenhut | 9.6.2019 7:35 AM

Large image on homepages

Reasontv

Stossel: Bad Laws Worsen the Homeless Crisis

San Francisco encourages homelessness by limiting housing, offering generous welfare, and failing to enforce basic laws.

John Stossel and Maxim Lott | 2.5.2019 2:35 PM

Culture

The Rasta Man vs. the State

Jesse Walker | 3.15.2011 2:01 PM

Democratic Party

One Democrat to the Rest: Come Home

Bill Kauffman | 11.1.1987 12:00 PM

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