Property tax equalization

{{Short description|Process used in calculation of property taxes}}

{{about|equalization of assessed values for property taxes|equalization of workers' taxes between countries|Tax equalization}}

{{expert needed|taxation|reason=It will be difficult to explain this subject, its history, and methods in lay terms without some skill|date=December 2019}}

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Equalization is a step in property taxation to bring a uniformity to tax assessment levels across different geographical areas or classes of properties. Equalization is usually in the form of a uniform percentage of increase or decrease to each area or class of property.{{cite web | url = https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/research/publications/pubs/Documents/pub-136.pdf | title = Publication 136: Property Assessment and Equalization | date = May 2019 | page = 4 | publisher = Illinois Department of Revenue | location = Springfield, Illinois | access-date = 2019-12-29 }}

Attempts at explicit equalization in tax assessments date back at least as early as 1799.{{cite web | url = https://www.njlm.org/205/Equalization | title = Equalization | publisher = New Jersey State League of Municipalities | location = Trenton, New Jersey | access-date = 2019-12-29 }}