Property tax appeals differ by state, county and cities. To appeal their property taxes a property owner will need to prove the value of their property is less than the property appraiser's office indicates. If a property owner believes their property was over assessed they should hire an experienced certified real estate appraiser to complete a real estate appraisal to help them determine the value of their property before they appeal their property taxes.
The assessed value of the property should be equal to or less than what the property should sell for on the open market. If the assessed value exceeds what the property would sell for the owner should file a tax appeal.
The key to an owner appealing their property taxes and winning is to have an experienced certified appraiser assist them with determining the value of their property by providing documented evidence.
To find the assessed value of the property the owner will receive their annual assessment by mail. In many areas they can go to the county property appraiser's web site where the property is located to view the assessed value.
Property tax appeals must be filed by a specific date, the property owner should check with their property appraiser's office to determine the date and any applications they will need to complete and file.
At the hearing the property owner and the property appraiser will be given the opportunity to present their evidence to prove their opinion of value. The owner and the county's property appraiser may question each other regarding the evidence presented. The property appraiser will have their representative at the hearing, the property owner should also have their state certified appraiser at the hearing to answer any technical appraisal questions that may arise in the case.
The Board or Hearing Officer will either give their decision at the end of the hearing or notify the owner by mail. The decision is final, however, it may be appealed to Superior Court within a spcific timeframe.
By winning a property tax appeal it could save a property owner hundreds to thousands of dollars per year, depending on the value of their property.
To find a local tax appeal appraiser enter the property's zip code in the search box below.
