Tax Records Search Key Terms

Understanding common terminology will make your tax records search go more smoothly

Tax records searches are commonplace today thanks to online record keeping. Public business tax records are critical components to preparing legal court cases, making real estate investment choices and even choosing vendors. Tax record searches are useful when tracking genealogy details, or to learn about the background of a historical property. It is helpful to have an understanding of some of the more common terminology before diving into public tax record searches.

 

Public records portal

A public records portal is a gathering place of sorts that provides you with access to numerous tax assessors and recorder offices that have developed websites for you to access tax record search information. A public records portal can save you time by allowing you to search one website rather than going to multiple sites.
Try: Nationwide Environmental Title Research bills itself as a portal to official state websites and explains more about the definition in its "welcome" paragraph.

Assessor's parcel number

The assessor's parcel number, or APN, is a number code assigned to each tract by a tax assessor. Knowing a property's APN can accelerate a property tax record search, which otherwise must be done using the property's physical address. Knowing the APN will also give you quick access to a map of the property as noted by the tax assessor.
Try: College Realty's Victorville Real Estate site explains how an assessor's 13-digit parcel number is assigned in California's San Bernardino County.

Property tax liens

It is common for a county to issue a tax lien for a property when the owner is late paying property taxes. Research property tax liens as part of your tax records search before purchasing a property, since owners are responsible for paying regardless of who incurred it.
Try: An article from SaveWealth explains the concept of tax liens as they apply to real estate.

PDF files

In order to store tax records online, paper documents are scanned using computer scanning software and saved in portable document format, commonly referred to as a PDF file. PDF readers installed on your PC allow you to view these files online.
Try: Adobe Reader, from Adobe Systems, is probably the most popular and commonly used program that allows you to read PDF documents.

Municipal tax

If a transaction takes place within a city that imposes a sales or a use tax, then it is considered a municipal tax. Municipal tax record information is worth understanding if you are considering buying a business where revenues are subject to municipal taxes.
Try: Ohio's Department of Taxation website features a municipal tax finder. This helpful tool lets you calculate how much municipal tax your business may be subject to if it is based in a particular Ohio city or town.

Property tax rate

All property is subject to a property tax rate that varies according to the location and is a percentage of the property's assessed value. It is essential to understand property tax rates when considering a real estate transaction, as they will greatly impact your cash layout.
Try: The State of Indiana's Department of Local Government Finance website includes a glossary of property tax terms, including a definition for property tax rates.

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