As a homeowner and taxpayer, you have the right to protest your property taxes if you feel they aren’t accurate.
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Today I want to start off by saying that I very much enjoy this time of year as I get to help so many of you work through your tax-related questions. Not only because it’s nice to see my tax return arrive in the mail, but also because I get to help so many of you work through your own tax-related questions.
Through answering your questions, I’ve begun to notice which topics bring about the most confusion among my clients. For instance, many people are unclear on the difference between property assessed values, market values, and appraised values. You can find the video where I explained that difference here, but for today I’d like to focus on another common query: How can a person successfully protest their property taxes?
In the video I filmed on the difference between property assessed values, market values, and appraised values, I talked about the method by which a county assesses property values. You can find more detail in that video, but before delving into today’s topic it’s important to understand that the way they determine these values is by using a mass appraisal system. Of course, anything carried out on such a mass scale cannot be entirely accurate.
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This is exactly why you as a homeowner and taxpayer have the right to protest your property taxes. There are three ways you can go about doing so:
As a homeowner and taxpayer, you have the right to protest your property taxes if you feel they aren’t accurate.
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- A phone call. Simply call your county appraisal district and let them know that you believe the assessed value of your home is inaccurate, and that you would therefore like your property to be individually re-evaluated. You will be asked a few questions during this phone call. Once all the necessary information is gathered, it will be submitted to an appraiser who will further investigate your case. You will receive a verdict in the mail after approximately two weeks.
- An informal review. Through this option, you have the opportunity to make a personal appearance at your county appraisal district and have a one-on-one meeting with an independent appraiser. This option is time-consuming but is perhaps the most effective.
- A formal hearing. This option, which is generally a last resort, involves you coming before a review board to state your case. You’ll be asked to present evidence in order to support your claims.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
