Don't Mess With Taxes

Did you catch the supermoon?

2016 is a great year for lunar gazing. The full moons of October, November and December all take place when the moon is at its closest point of approach in its orbit around Earth, creating the so-called supermoon. Click image to watch a NASA video about the phenomenon. (Photo courtesy NASA)

The hubby and I were driving back earlier this evening from visiting my mom and we were treated to the supermoon peeking in and out of clouds.

Luckily for us, by the time we got home the clouds had moved on, giving us a clear view of the spectacular sphere.

Tax rocket science: Of course as a tax geek, in addition to taking in the natural beauty of the tonight's very bright sky, I also was thinking a bit about taxes.

There are, of course, our taxes that pay for scientific endeavors, including things like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which sent the first men to our moon.

The National Priorities Project says that 3 percent, or almost $28 billion, of the country's 2015 fiscal year budget was designated for science.

Down to earth taxes: Terrestrially, there are locales with lunar names, like Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

This community just west of Pittsburgh needs, like all cities large and small, tax money to run.

Catherine Tress, the town's property tax collector, has a website that provides info to residents, including a FAQ page with more on the taxes due date, how they are calculated, how they can be paid and property tax relief.

While property taxes vary substantially around the country -- The Tax Foundation has a good piece, complete with an interactive map, on this topic -- they also tend to be deductible on federal tax returns as a Schedule A itemized deduction.

And most property tax collecting jurisdictions, whether they collect on personal property, real estate or both, are structured much the same way as Moon Township.

You can find your country tax assessor collector by Googling "property tax" and your county (or parish) name.

Smart Asset also has a calculator that can give you an estimate of your property tax bill.

Remember, if you don't pay your taxes, the tax collector can put a lien on the property.

So don't spend too much time gazing at the heavens and overlook your tax responsibilities or you'll end up with sky-high tax troubles.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Making sure your property tax bill is correct
• Automotive angel pays Kansas woman's property tax bill
• Property taxes pose burdens, predatory loan possibilities