The Stages Of A Property Tax Appeal Process

There are several steps for the property tax appeal process. The first step is to determine if you are receiving a higher assessment than what you believe the property could sell for in this period. If you feel the assessed value is high, you can then take the first step towards appealing the tax bill. If you do not succeed on the first level, you have two other levels to appeal to before taking the final step in a courtroom.

The first thing to do is appeal to the local board. The local board consists of the members who govern the community that you reside in and are the ones who approve the assessment. In writing, you will submit your claim to the county or city clerk stating that you are appealing your assessed value on your home. This has to be in a certain time and every community has a different ruling on the deadline for this process. You will need to provide proof that the assessment of your property is to high. You will also need to fill any forms that are deemed necessary. You will be notified in writing what the decision is about your claim.

If they denied your claim, you may take the second step, which means appealing to the county board. This is comprised of county commissioners. In writing, you must submit a letter of appeal for the property in question. Again, there is a deadline for doing this after the local board denies you. You will receive notification of the hearing. If this board denies you a lower assessment of your property, you can then take your case to the Office of Hearing Examiners. After they receive your letter of intent, they will set a hearing date.

If this level of the community denies your claim to lower the assessed value of your property, you can then take it to court and be heard by a judge. You will have a certain amount of time after being denied by the Office of Hearing Examiners to partition the court for a hearing. Once you are granted the court hearing, you need to get all your vital information together and plan your testimony as to your reasons and why you are requesting a lower assessment value for your property.

During this proceeding, the judge will hear both sides of the argument and after considering all sides, the judge will make a decision whether to lower the assessed value of your property or resolve that the amount of the assessment is justified. This of course, is going to be the final decision. If you have any questions, you should make sure to ask an attorney if you are not using one to represent you. It might just be that you are asking for a great deduction in the assessed value than what the courts and the other boards feel is to drastic. You might have to consider changing the amount you feel is justified, and settle with a higher amount, but one that is slightly lower than what the original was.

- Oliver Bugarin, Webmaster

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