Ramiro Villarreal said he removed several of the trailer homes on his property 10 years ago. Taxes on those trailers, though, remain Villarreal’s financial responsibility.
Bad tenants forced Villarreal to remove a number of the trailers he owned off of his park. He thought that would reduce his property tax. However, the Cameron County Appraisal District never got word of the changes.
The county is after nearly $2,000 in back taxes for six trailers that are no longer in the park.
“Many taxpayers do not report this until several years after,” Cameron County Appraisal District’s George Garcia told KRGV.com. “Villarreal did not protest on any of those accounts."
Appraisal records showed the trailers were removed from Villarreal’s property in 2011. The county is charging the taxpayer for unpaid taxes from 2007 to 2010.
“Some I got rid of in 2006 and 2007,” Villarreal said.
Villarreal said he can prove he sold the trailers before the county taxed him. The problem is the appraisal district can only make corrections to an appraisal five years back. If Villarreal wants to fix the problem, he must provide evidence that shows he sold the trailers. The evidence must be submitted to the tax office for review.