Central News Agency (CNA, Taipei, July 3) The Ministry of Finance has actively urged local governments to adjust their property tax bases. This year, five counties and cities are required to re-evaluate their tax bases. Among them, Taipei City and Miaoli County have decided to freeze the standard unit prices for houses, while New Taipei City will see a 5% increase, Taichung City a 15% increase, and Kaohsiung City a 5% increase. Overall, this presents a "2 freezes, 3 rises" scenario, which will be implemented starting July this year, meaning it will apply to property taxes levied next year. The real estate appraisal committees of various county and city governments re-evaluate the "standard house price" every three years based on three standards: standard unit price, location rate, and depreciation rate. This serves as the property tax base, from which the "assessed value of the house" is calculated to determine the amount of property tax to be paid. Generally, houses with larger floor areas, better construction materials, newer age, and located in prosperous areas will have a higher assessed value. Taipei City's Real Estate Appraisal Committee announced at the beginning of the year that the standard unit prices for house structures, depreciation rates, and useful life tables applicable to property taxes levied next year will not be adjusted. Furthermore, based on actual surveys of commercial development and transportation convenience in various districts, it was decided to adjust the location rates for 60 roads. New Taipei City's Real Estate Appraisal Committee decided in April this year that the construction cost index has increased by 11.4% from 2021 to 2024. To avoid placing an excessive tax burden on taxpayers, for 7 types of structures including steel-framed buildings, the standard unit price for houses will be increased by approximately 50% of the construction cost index increase, resulting in a 5% rise. Location rates will be adjusted for a total of 133 stree