Abatement
What it is:
An abatement is a reduction in a tax rate or tax liability.
How it works/Example:
Property taxes are a common subject of abatement (though the term is often used when discussing overdue debt). For example, John Doe owns a house and owes $4,000 in property taxes for the year. John's house is very old, and he is able to have it added to the National Register of Historic Places because Thomas Jefferson once slept there. As a result, the county gives him an abatement, reducing his taxes to only $500.
Why it matters:
Municipalities often grant abatements to incent people to do certain things with property: take action to revitalize a struggling neighborhood, restore a historic place, operate a business or nonprofit organization, or conduct another activity that improves the community as a whole.