A property tax is an ad valorem levy

Ad valorem tax

An ad valorem tax is a tax based on the value of real estate or personal property. It is more common than a specific duty, a tax based on the quantity of an item, such as cents per kilogram, regardless of price....

 on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality

Local government

Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...

. Multiple jurisdictions may tax the same property.

There are three species or types of property: land, improvements to land (immovable man-made objects, such as buildings), and personal property (movable man-made objects).