Property tax quotes show that many believe this type of tax is unfair. If you own property in most US cities then you must pay a property tax to the local government. The taxes collected are used to fund certain things, like schools or other government programs that benefit the residents of the area. Properties may be classified in one of several ways, and the classification will help determine the amount of property tax that is owed to the government. If the property owner rents out the property they are still responsible for paying the property tax. Calculating property tax involves multiplying the value of your property times a specific percentage that has been set, so a more expensive home will be assessed higher property taxes.