Reducing Property Tax Liability

Property tax bills are generated to support city/county services to taxpayers. Basically, the bill is generated by dividing the assessed value by 100 then multiplying by the tax rate for the district where the property is located

Taxpayers who can demonstrate that the assessed value on a given property is too high can possibly lower the tax bill for that property.

Detailed below are six actions taxpayers can take in order to make an argument to lower the assessed value on their property:

1. Review the current assessment from the county assessor's office and look for obvious errors with regard to size, description or condition of the property in question.
2. Compare the assessed value of the property in question with similar properties in the same neighborhood.
3. Check recent sales prices of homes in the same neighborhood that are similar to the property in question.
4. Have a new appraisal performed by a reputable certified appraiser.
5. List factors that could decrease the value of a property as of the assessment date.
6. Be sure to take advantage of special credits.  Some states provide tax reductions for veterans and senior citizens.

Documentation of your case before an appeal board should include photographs of the property in question and a complete explanation of any detrimental factors affecting the property value.

You should contact your local assessment office for rules and procedures governing the assessed valuation appeal.