How to Find a Low-Tax Place to Retire

How tofind a low-tax place to Retire

Hello my partner Is sixty-two and getting SSI and a pension,and I am fifty-four and on peramanet SSD and we would like to no what state in the U.S. would be afforable for us to live in Senior building/Townhouse. Because we do have a 6lb dog which we will not give her up becasue she is part of our family. We are willing to move out of New Jersey at this point with the way the country is going.

Marie S. Rivera of NJ @ Jan 09, 2009 18:39:00 PM

AZ tax high in Tucson

The roads here are always in need of repairs. We are taxed to repair but the money is not used for that it was accumulated for.Property taxes are not based on fair market value. We are diasbled and retired, our property taxes went up $1000 THIS YEAR DESPITE foreclosures and property not selling. ANY PLACE you ARE LIVING WHERE YOU HAVE TO BORROW AGAINST YOUR home equity to maintain a meager existance is EVERYWHERE. There are NO Shangrila's for small taxation ANYWHERE. If there was you and I would be living there long before this collapse of the economy. Too many at the top and Congress too greedy! We are now (our country) having to work until you drop dead and then you will still owe the government more than they are worth. The problem is now, no employment anywhere for anyone. We are now in the "Doomsday" cycle having elected all the wrong people to govern us. City and County employees at the grass roots level are no different than those in Washington.

Dr Carl of AZ @ Jan 09, 2009 15:34:01 PM

property tax dane co. wi

the town ship raised my house assessment $89k in the last 2 yrs increased my taxes by over $1k retired on low income .was treated very rude in dealing with them. neighbor was given $40k reduction she sells homes and hasn't sold any in last year.

joe of deerfield wi of WI @ Jan 09, 2009 13:24:36 PM

How to Find a Low-Tax Place to Retire

Does AZ. have tax benefits? or discounts?

Joseph of AZ @ Dec 26, 2008 16:28:48 PM

SC property taxes

Politicians promised to eliminate property taxes if we voted in a state education lottery.

The politicians lied & all that was accompolished was an influx of inferior college, university & trade school students.

The property taxes should have been eliminated entirely because property taxes are an eternal mortgage on your home. You can never own your home, the county tax office ownes it.

If you want to encourage people to move to your area & move up, you should eliminate all property taxes. These taxes are an unjust burden on the backbone of society.

Janice Miller of SC @ Dec 26, 2008 14:33:50 PM

tax brake

i am 68 year old,please tell me what my state gave a senior,i just moved from new york to tennessee in july of this year,i do not know state laws thank you.angelo

angelo of TN @ Dec 22, 2008 15:23:03 PM

tax brake

i am 68 year old,please tell me what my state gave a senior,i just moved from new york to tennessee in july of this year,i do not know state laws thank you.angelo

angelo of TN @ Dec 22, 2008 15:22:16 PM

South Carolina

Property taxes are misleading. If you purchase a home after 12/31/06, your taxes are appraised based on fair market value, which is essentially what you paid for the house. So we bought a lovely home for $440K which 2007 taxes were $3300. 2008 bill hiked the rate to $5500. We are applying for the 4% tax rate, which will reduce that by 1/3. Of course, the house won't sell for what we paid for it, but that doesn't matter to SC. Now here's the rub - my neighbors, who bought before 12/31/06 pay a much lower property tax for the same type of house and square footage, simply because they bought prior to 2007. The bad news for all those SC residents who haven't been hit by the HUGE property tax increase, is that the state is supposed to re-assess all real property in 2009, so their rates will go up, too,

The good news is that my electric bill runs about $125 - $150 every month and includes everything - heat/AC, hot water, dryer. In NJ we pay that much for electricity, plus a gas bill that averages around $200 a month in the winter, $100 a month in summer. Even at $5500 our taxes in SC are lower than in NJ.

I agree that the weather is wonderful. Not so sure about the government as the public schools are deplorable, employment is almost all low wage, no benefits, and seems geared toward the tourist industry. That doesn't grow an economy. The state needs some vision for future growth, and that seems to be missing.

Having said all that, I love my new home and the area that I live in (Myrtle Beach). You can buy a small 3 bedroom home with a garage from the low $100K up to whatever you want to pay. Homes in the $100K range in NJ are generally dumps or in undesireable areas or both.

Cathy of SC @ Dec 22, 2008 12:47:07 PM