Hello BP,

I have a property tax question related to duplexes/triplexes, etc.

Do you pay taxes on each side of the unit? For example I was looking at a duplex listed on loopnet in plano, texas and looked up the address on the county website for one of the side. The total yearly tax for 2017 was around 4k. I then looked to see if the other side was listed and is was not.

Are you only paying taxes for the 1 roof or does this depend of the area you're investing in?

Thanks

The taxing authority will value the entire property as one unit with very few exceptions :

Some appraisal districts will parcel out one unit if it have a homestead exemption. 

If the duplex has been subdivided into to town homes it can have separate owners and therefore appraised separately 

I've seen it both ways. Sometimes a duplex is considered a single property with two residences. It will be listed that way on the CAD. When you look at things like number of bedrooms, it will say 6 instead of 3, 4 bathrooms instead of two, etc. There is usually a single address with Unit A and Unit B.

If each side is its own distinct property, it will be listed as a single family home. There will be two different addresses and usually two different owners. And two different tax records. I sold a property like that earlier this year. It was one half of a duplex. The other side shared a wall but not the address and it was owned by a different individual and had its own tax record.