tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post8689654943597005095..comments2022-03-25T08:24:41.966-07:00Comments on DC Vacant Properties: Another Tax ScandalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172570847419998448noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-19726093472164885842008-06-15T21:47:00.000-07:002008-06-15T21:47:00.000-07:00Correction: The vacant property tax rate is still...Correction: The vacant property tax rate is still 5%, not 10%.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172570847419998448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-42936133656687695332008-04-14T18:48:00.000-07:002008-04-14T18:48:00.000-07:00well, I've lived in my home for 22 years and it do...well, I've lived in my home for 22 years and it don't look vacant and yet I GOT SENT a tax bill at the vacant property rate meaning I am supposed to cough up $26,000 dollars by April 25!! I've tried to fix it and the idiots at DCRA tell me that the list they keep doesn't match the list that DC Tax&Revenue office has. One has it by addresses and the other has it by square-lot number and "they can't merge databases" so there is apparently a secret list that someone has created of whatever property they want to throw on it. There are at least ten homeowners in this jam due to this attempt to squeeze yet more funds out of property owners (in a down market too!). So now I have to unravel this mess or find my home on the tax arrears list and perhaps sold out from under me by the greedy tax pigs and developers that are circling DC like vultures.<BR/>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-80893901490994135842008-03-31T21:26:00.000-07:002008-03-31T21:26:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-47597848908600697072008-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:002008-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:00Tom,Even properties that are "clearly being rehabb...Tom,<BR/><BR/>Even properties that are "clearly being rehabbed" have to be registered as vacant. Of course, properties undergoing active renovation may apply for an exemption from the class 3 tax rate. Please see my post above.<BR/><BR/>Sorry to hear that DCRA inspectors did not show up for the inspection.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172570847419998448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-74312325267181792262008-03-21T17:07:00.000-07:002008-03-21T17:07:00.000-07:00DCRA apparently overlooks many long term vacant pr...DCRA apparently overlooks many long term vacant properties. It also defeats the purpose of the code when it reclassifies properties that are clearly being rehabbed (permits in windows, obvious activity, etc.). In our case, due to administrative delays largely caused by DC government, restoring our home has taken more than a year. We are there every day to collect mail, supervise and clean up. Its home and the family has lived there for several generations. Nevertheless, DCRA reclassified the site as "vacant" without notice. We've talked to DCRA three times, who could not provide a copy of any notice and who insisted on inspection. We waited all day and they never showed. DCRA should spend its resources on abandoned and vacant properties that endanger the community (such as those listed here), not on properties that are being restored.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09543196696472720745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-48867803728169718692008-03-14T20:22:00.000-07:002008-03-14T20:22:00.000-07:00weve all been bitching about this for years now an...weve all been bitching about this for years now and its absolutely true its a sleeping BEAST. I calculated how much the city was losing on one block that contained 7 valuable vacant properties owned by Jemal. from 2005 including 2008 (they havent changed em to class 3) the total loss is one million dollars give or take. A small sample indicating a very large problem.sihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15462071771806237417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-45016413782688254932008-03-14T06:33:00.000-07:002008-03-14T06:33:00.000-07:00Unfair taxes on properties with valid class 3 exem...Unfair taxes on properties with valid class 3 exemptions may also be a problem. But that is not the case with the vast majority of vacant buildings.<BR/><BR/>By the way, the owners that are rehabbing vacant buildings are not exempt from registering. They must register in order to get the class 3 exemption. Responsible owners that are making improvements should be especially outraged by negligent owners of many rundown buildings that are not paying the higher tax.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172570847419998448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922083289782881257.post-65466384997899432962008-03-13T20:42:00.000-07:002008-03-13T20:42:00.000-07:00What about people who are hit with HUGE tax bills ...What about people who are hit with HUGE tax bills while they have multiple valid permits, have a crew at the property daily and are investing significant monies rehabbing a former dump of a property? These tax payers are exempt from registering and paying the vacant tax rate under DC Code 42-3131.06 #3. These permits are ON FILE at DCRA yet the taxpayer has to fight them on the tax rate. What a waste of resources.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com