What is the primary purpose of the State Tax Commission (STC)?

The primary purpose of the State Tax Commission (STC) is to assist assessors in the administration of property tax laws. This involves providing guidance, training, and support to local assessors to ensure that property assessments are conducted accurately and uniformly across the state. The STC plays a crucial role in establishing appraisal standards, recommending best practices, and ensuring compliance with state regulations governing property taxation. By focusing on this support and assistance, the STC helps maintain the integrity and fairness of the property tax system, which benefits both local governments and taxpayers.

The other options pertain to aspects of property taxes but do not reflect the main function of the STC. Collecting property taxes is typically the responsibility of local governments, and while the STC may provide oversight, it does not directly handle the collection process. Auditing financial transactions of property sales is often conducted by different entities, such as financial institutions or regulatory bodies, rather than the STC itself. Setting tax rates is also a function managed at the local level, involving elected officials and local governments rather than the STC. Therefore, the answer accurately captures the STC's role in the broader context of property tax administration.