What is the Ad Valorem Tax?

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It is different from the specified taxes, whereby individuals have to pay taxes every time a transaction occurs. Instead, the price of the property in question is evaluated first, and accordingly, an ad valorem tax rate is applied to it. Then, based on the calculation, the owners pay the tax.

Key Takeaways

  • Ad Valorem tax is defined as the tax levied on a property, depending on its assessed value.The municipal and state governments make these taxes applicable to personal and commercial assets.These taxes are charged as per the spending capabilities of the buyers. This means an expensive product will have a higher tax rate than an inexpensive one.Property tax, sales tax, and value-added tax (VAT) are the three types of Ad Valorem Taxes.

How does Ad Valorem Tax Work?

Ad Valorem Tax is derived from the Latin term “Ad Valorem,” which means according to the value. This tax, therefore, is charged according to the assessed value of the propertyAssessed Value Of The PropertyThe market value of a property is the amount we would get if we sold it today. The assessed value, on the other hand, is based on standard procedures employed by local authorities and for tax purposes.read more. These comprise a major source of revenueRevenueRevenue is the amount of money that a business can earn in its normal course of business by selling its goods and services. In the case of the federal government, it refers to the total amount of income generated from taxes, which remains unfiltered from any deductions.read more for the local and state government authorities for the properties owned by the citizens. Hence, these taxes are often addressed as property taxes.

The concerned authorities choose assessors to examine the taxable property. Based on the examination, they determine its value and decide the applicable tax rate for further tax calculation. Unlike transactional taxes, the concerned governments levyLevyA levy is a lawful process where the debtor’s property is seized when the debtor cannot pay the outstanding debts. It is different from liens, as a lien is only a claim against a property, whereas a levy is an actual property takeover to fulfill the obligation.read more these taxes annually on the property owned. 

Though these taxes are not levied frequently, these might be charged by more than one authority. For example, one might need to pay these taxes multiple times as charged by the municipality and county for a real estateReal EstateAt its most basic principle, Real Estate can be defined as properties that comprise land and its tangible attachments. The land includes the actual surface of the earth and any permanent natural objects such as water, dirt, or rock and any minerals or particulars under the surface. read more asset.

Types

These taxes are available in various forms – Property Tax, Sales Tax, and Value Added Tax (VAT).

#1 – Property Tax

Property taxes are levied on personal and commercial property that individuals own. Once individuals or entities purchase a property, the municipal or state governments charge the tax against the property. As a result, figuring out the right value of the assets becomes an important factor. Then, the authorities choose an assessor who evaluates the property in question and accordingly charges the tax.

#2 – Sales Tax

It is the type of tax levied on every transaction one makes. In short, the sales taxSales TaxThe government levies sales tax on the consumption of various goods and services as the percentage added to the product and services from which the government earns revenue and does the company’s welfare. In the United States, 38 different states have different taxes, from Alaska (1.76%) to Tennessee (9.45%).read more is applicable whenever people buy a product or service. It is a percentage of the value of a property, and its rates vary from county to county.

#3 – VAT (Value added tax)

VATVATValue-added tax (VAT) refers to the charges imposed whenever there is an accretion to a product’s usefulness or value throughout its supply chain, i.e., from its manufacturing to its final selling point. It is an indirect tax levied on the product consumption.read more is the tax that the authorities charge for the services that make businesses add value to the final products and services. While sales tax is charged on the full value of consumer goodsConsumer GoodsConsumer goods are the products purchased by the buyers for consumption and not for resale. Also referred to as final products, examples of consumer goods include an Apple cellphone or a box of Oreo cookies. Consumer goods companies and the industry offer a vast range of products that heavily contribute to the global economy.read more, VAT is charged on the extra value added to the products/services or profits generated by businesses. So, for example, if consumers buy some goods, they will have to pay VAT for the entire production process that helps in manufacturing or producing them.

Examples of Ad Valorem Tax Calculation

Let us consider the following ad valorem tax examples to understand the concept better:

Example #1 (Simple)

Let’s say Tom owns a house, and for this year, tax authorities have assessed the value of your home to be $100,000. Therefore, the property tax rate applicable in the area is 4%.

In such a scenario, the calculation will be –

  • Value of House = $100,000Property Tax Rate = 4%Property Tax = 100,000*4% = $4,000

Hence, Tom had to pay $4,000 as property tax for the house.

Example #2 (Complex)

XYZ school added five more classrooms and constructed a playground this financial year. When tax authorities evaluated its value for the financial year, because of construction, they increased the value of the school from $500,000 to $600,000, though the area of the school remains the same. 

The school is eligible for an exemption of $50,000. So, the total value of property eligible for Ad Valorem property tax for this financial year would be $550,000. Let us calculate the tax payable for the property.

Tax Rate = Tax Requirement / Tax Base.

The tax baseTax BaseTax base refers to the total value of the income or assets of an individual or firm which is taxable by the government or the relevant taxing authority. This taxable amount is used to evaluate the tax liability of the individual or company.read more for that district is $50 million, and the tax requirement is $2 million.

Tax rate = 2/50 = 0.04 = 40 mils.

The calculation of the tax for XYZ School –

Exemption = $50,000

Tax Millage rate = 40 mils

Advantages & Disadvantages

Ad Valorem Taxes increase with the increasing cost of the property, products, or services people purchase. As a result, the tax for the low-priced items is less than the tax charged for the high-priced ones. In addition, these taxes do not affect the financial stability of individuals as authorities adjust and apply the tax rates only as per their spending power. 

However, these might leave room for doubts, given the accurate assessment of the actual fair price of an asset or any property is not always possible.

This article is a guide to Ad Valorem Tax and its meaning. Here we explain how it works along with its types, advantages, and examples with proper calculation. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –

It refers to the taxes levied on property or assets, depending on their assessed monetary value. The municipal or state government makes the owned properties taxable to generate revenue. In the process, the administrative authorities choose an assessor who evaluates the property and figures out its value on which the tax rates are applied.

It is calculated by multiplying the property’s assessed value with the tax rates applied. For example, if A buys a car worth $1000 and the rate applied is 4%, the tax applicable is 10004/100 = 10000.04 = $40.

The state and local governments make these taxes levied on personal property deductible on the federal tax returns filed by the taxpayers.

  • Tax AvoidanceDefinition of Proportional TaxExamples of Indirect Taxes Compare Effective vs. Marginal Tax Rate