Anticipated property tax increases and the timing of home sales: Evidence from administrative data

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The infrequent reassessment of properties results in a divergence between the assessed values of current owners and prospective purchasers. This divergence is reduced when properties are reassessed, as is the tax “wedge” between current owners and prospective buyers. We examine how a reassessment-induced reduction in this tax wedge affects home sales. Using data from Lexington, KY and our preferred approach, we find that reassessments are associated with an increase in sales of approximately 5%. Using an alternative approach, we find that a 10% increase in taxes due to reassessment increases the probability of a sale by 3%.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)114-146
Number of pages33
JournalPublic Budgeting and Finance
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Public Financial Publications, Inc.

Funding

The authors thank and wish to acknowledge the helpful comments and suggestions of two anonymous referees and the editors of this journal as well as David Agrawal, Thiess Buettner, Chris Bollinger, Denvil Duncan, John Foster, Christopher Goodman, Raphael Parchett, Louis Warren, Caroline Weber, and seminar participants at the Association of Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM), the Kentucky Economics Association, the National Tax Association, the University of Kentucky, Universitá sella Svizzera Italiana (Lugano), and FAU Erlangen-Nűrnberg.

FundersFunder number
Universitá sella Svizzera Italiana
Kentucky Economics Association
University of Kentucky
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
National Tax Association

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Finance
    • Economics and Econometrics
    • Public Administration

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