Orchidflower
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Retiring: lowest tax burden Texas or Florida?
- Thread starter Orchidflower
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Property taxes in Texas are low IF you live in a rural area or in a far-away suburb. If you want to live in a city, you will be paying a lot for a smallish house. When I write "a lot," I mean that you'll be paying more than most other posters on this forum, even if they have a house 3x larger.
Texas has an unfunded retiree public employee medical benefit. It's mentioned in the recent articles about state pension problems. This will causes serious economic problems in the future.
It's hot. It's really hot. There were something like 55 days of >100 degrees last year. You'll need the AC in May and sometimes in April. You can turn if off in late October.
What Ziggy said: Live here if you have a high income and own an inexpensive house in a small town.
Texas has an unfunded retiree public employee medical benefit. It's mentioned in the recent articles about state pension problems. This will causes serious economic problems in the future.
It's hot. It's really hot. There were something like 55 days of >100 degrees last year. You'll need the AC in May and sometimes in April. You can turn if off in late October.
What Ziggy said: Live here if you have a high income and own an inexpensive house in a small town.
ziggy29
Moderator Emeritus
Yeah, but spring and fall are wonderful here. I just wish they were more than a couple weeks long. The weather is near perfect now, but in another month it will start getting hot and in two months it will be oppressive -- for another three months with no breaks in the heat.
As far as the small town thing and property taxes, it's true. Not just because smaller towns tend to have lower property values (mostly because of the lack of high paying jobs there), but also small towns have fewer taxing authorities. And if you live in the country outside the city limits, you won't have city property taxes to pay.
When we were in Houston we had a home appraised at $196K and paid about $4500 in property tax on a homesteaded residence. Out here in a small Hill Country town (within city limits) we pay about $1100 on a home appraised at $88K. Texas isn't a good place to be "house rich and income poor" from a tax standpoint.
Leonidas
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If you want to move to Texas and pay no income taxes that's fine, but you are going to pay for county and local services with real estate taxes. And as Ziggy points out, if you live in an urban area you are going to be in for a shock when you get that tax bill.
You can live out in the country somewhere, have a nice piece of land and have significantly lower taxes. Especially if you get yourself a nice agricultural exemption on the taxes. But don't expect too much in the way of paved roads (plenty of county roads in this state are shell, caliche or dirt), bone up on water wells and pumps, and volunteer fire departments and EMS. If you're lucky you will have access to private trash pickup, or you'll have to dig your own little dump pile. Don't forget to budget for a gun, because lots of sheriff's departments in Texas are on call after midnightish - or there are just a couple of deputies on duty in counties that are several hundred square miles in area.
If you come here based on the tax structure, don't start whining about services not being as plentiful as they were back in wherever-the-hell-you-came-from. We're usually ranked 50th in state spending per capita and that's fine with us because we think we're taxed more than enough already.
You can live out in the country somewhere, have a nice piece of land and have significantly lower taxes. Especially if you get yourself a nice agricultural exemption on the taxes. But don't expect too much in the way of paved roads (plenty of county roads in this state are shell, caliche or dirt), bone up on water wells and pumps, and volunteer fire departments and EMS. If you're lucky you will have access to private trash pickup, or you'll have to dig your own little dump pile. Don't forget to budget for a gun, because lots of sheriff's departments in Texas are on call after midnightish - or there are just a couple of deputies on duty in counties that are several hundred square miles in area.
If you come here based on the tax structure, don't start whining about services not being as plentiful as they were back in wherever-the-hell-you-came-from. We're usually ranked 50th in state spending per capita and that's fine with us because we think we're taxed more than enough already.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
And the possibility of having someone put in a rock quarry, feed lot or pig farm next door...
I currently live in a county of 1,335 square miles. Between the hours of midnight and 8 am there are a total of two (2) deputies covering the entire county - unless one of them calls in sick...
Orchidflower
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Uh, I guess the original question about has anyone done Turbo Tax or put paper and pencil to which State was better tax burden-wise is one that nobody has done? So, I guess that answer is no, nobody has done Turbo Tax for both Texas and Florida or put paper and pencil to it. OK...cool.
I was just ask'n.
The best thing about both States to me is the right-to-carry. I hate being in Illinois, the no-gun State. Other than Illinois being broke, crooked Governors and other politicos...they don't allow a right-to-carry...boooooooo! Heck, in Texas HPD told me what to do if I shot someone...my kinda law enforcement. I miss that mentality up here totally where citizens are so brainwashed they act terrified if you even say the word "gun."
Leonidas says that Texas is low in spending per capita. I was shocked to find out that the mentally ill in Texas were just walking around, and there really didn't seem anyone caring to get them help like they did in Illinois when I grew up. Now this Illinois State is broke and there's no place to put them here as all the facilities have been closed. Sad state of affairs America has gotten itself into.
I was just ask'n.The best thing about both States to me is the right-to-carry. I hate being in Illinois, the no-gun State.
Other than Illinois being broke, crooked Governors and other politicos...they don't allow a right-to-carry...boooooooo! Heck, in Texas HPD told me what to do if I shot someone...my kinda law enforcement. I miss that mentality up here totally where citizens are so brainwashed they act terrified if you even say the word "gun."Leonidas says that Texas is low in spending per capita. I was shocked to find out that the mentally ill in Texas were just walking around, and there really didn't seem anyone caring to get them help like they did in Illinois when I grew up. Now this Illinois State is broke and there's no place to put them here as all the facilities have been closed. Sad state of affairs America has gotten itself into.
haha
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
The best thing about both States to me is the right-to-carry. I hate being in Illinois, the no-gun State.
Should be no problem for you, Bonnie, I mean Orchid. If them loonies mess with you, just bust a cap in they a$$es.
Ha
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
...and posting on internet forums.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
Instead of looking for the cheapest place or best tax place to retire ,look for a place you will feel comfortable in. I never picked a place to retire . If it was up to me I would still be in New Jersey but my husband always wanted to move to Florida so I moved . It's not my favorite place to live but it has become home . Not because of the taxes or the cost of living but because of the people that I've met and the life I've created and there is no way to goggle that on the Internet .
meierlde
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It depends on which county you live in. The major metros with emission inspection charge the 39.75, while if you live in the deep country there is no emmission inspection and it runs $13.75 or so. So stay away from the Houston and Dallas areas, and soon San Antonio and Austin and you can get the cheap rate. (Try to stay 2 counties away from the central county, but do check where you are looking to see if it is covered.
meierlde
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However when someone having a gun pointed at them makes the local paper, or a DWI, that gives some indication of the crime rate. Note that in many areas the new trend is emergency services district that levy low taxes for fire service.
FANOFJESUS
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I have spent very little time in FL or TX but based on the ER forum there are a lot of ER's in texas.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
Might be interesting to know how many of them are posting from inside a cell...
audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
Hey! No steel bars around me, just well-cushioned walls.
IndependentlyPoor
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Nah, there's not all that many of us...
we just talk a lot.
Leonidas
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Sorry, I'm not sure what it is you're saying there.
I've seen some of those and even lived in such an area. In fact, over the years where I live I've seen it go from pure volunteer services, to a sort-of "hidden" tax that supported the volunteers, to a mixture of full-time paid employees and volunteers, to being annexed by a city and paying taxes for a professional fire service. I like it the way it is now - because I can hold off a burglar with a gun 'til el sherrif arrives, but I'm not equally confident in my ability to douse my burning house with the garden hose.
I'm glad we were of service!
It's not just a way of thinking, it's the law. This is the city where a long standing DA once said "If the Penal Code says you're justified in shooting somebody it doesn't restrict how many times you are allowed to shoot. If you're justified in shooting once, you're justified in shooting until they're dead."
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
Not to mention the fact "he needed killin'".
Rustic23
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We have a volunteer fire dpt. Most feel that they will do a good job of saving the house next door to the one burning. You just accept it and don't let your insurance laps. While they are trained and well equipped there is still and additional time thing for them to get to the equipment.
FANOFJESUS
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Or to quote another texas saying Big hat no cattle. LOL
Budget problems in Texas...
"The Employee Retirement System of Texas fired off an early warning to lawmakers on Wednesday that it will need an additional $400 million to $700 million in the next budget for its health care program"
Yes, the mentally ill in Texas walk around. The county facility will accept them if they're a threat to themselves or others (sometimes the call comes too late...) and they'll be given some drugs and released after a few weeks. Yes, this is a sad state of affairs.
"The Employee Retirement System of Texas fired off an early warning to lawmakers on Wednesday that it will need an additional $400 million to $700 million in the next budget for its health care program"
Yes, the mentally ill in Texas walk around. The county facility will accept them if they're a threat to themselves or others (sometimes the call comes too late...) and they'll be given some drugs and released after a few weeks. Yes, this is a sad state of affairs.
IndependentlyPoor
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A friend of mine who is a doctor at the local county/charity hospital told me that they had so much trouble with cronically ill (with things like TB) street people not taking their meds and then showing up repeatedly in the emergency room that the hospital finally rented apartments for the worst of them and pays to have a home care nurse observe their medication.
Apparently, the program has saved huge amounts of money.
Apparently, the program has saved huge amounts of money.
Well, I'm not retired yet, but it looks like it's going to be TX even though I have family in FL (and they offered to give me their house!!). They are both great states, in my estimation, but I guess I'm a bit more partial to TX for some reason (half the family coming from there over the years maybe - although the other half is from northeastern US and I grew up in AZ - love it there, but unfortunately, I see AZ going the way of CA - sigh). I'll keep in mind the 'living out in the country' issues regarding services, although, frankly, even when I lived in areas that had services provided, I didn't get quick service....did I mention living in CA?
Things I like about TX - the state legislature does not work year-round. I understand that the state of TX has a balanced budget requirement - so they must balance the budget and can't go into debt - the independent spirit I sense in Texans - self-supporting yet generous and *really friendly* to all. I was amazed when I went to the Lavender Festival in Hill Country outside of San Antonio at how really friendly everyone was - even when I didn't purchase something. That was anathema to what I experienced in CA.
As for heat - well, did I say I grew up in AZ? Heat is relative - and it's hot in FL, too.
?Things I like about TX - the state legislature does not work year-round. I understand that the state of TX has a balanced budget requirement - so they must balance the budget and can't go into debt - the independent spirit I sense in Texans - self-supporting yet generous and *really friendly* to all. I was amazed when I went to the Lavender Festival in Hill Country outside of San Antonio at how really friendly everyone was - even when I didn't purchase something. That was anathema to what I experienced in CA.
As for heat - well, did I say I grew up in AZ? Heat is relative - and it's hot in FL, too.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
That's because they appreciated the fact you were walking through the lavender fields as a form of live chigger bait. We've got a saying in these parts: "The more on you the less on me."
FANOFJESUS
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Official answer. Looks like FL wins but they both are good.
How High Is Your Tax Burden? - Forbes.com
How High Is Your Tax Burden? - Forbes.com
