How to Appeal Real Estate Tax Assessments

It seems that every year when you open your tax appraisal for your home, the value has increased. It's hard to understand, especially in a downturn in economy, how taxing authorities can expect a home's value to continue to rise along with inflation when home values have plummeted. Before you grumble and rearrange your budget to cover the increase, appeal your real estate tax assessment. You might not only avoid a tax increase, but actually lower your tax bill.

Things You'll Need

• Copy of your real estate assessment
• Appeals paperwork

Instructions

1. Check with your taxing authority to determine the filing date and paperwork required for filing an appeal. Pick up a copy of the required forms, or download and print them from the Internet if the taxing authority makes them available on its website. Some taxing authorities mail appeal instructions and forms along with the tax assessments.

2. File your protest form by the required date. The taxing authority will either request support for your appeal or schedule a hearing to review your support for the appeal.

3. Gather information concerning sales prices of comparable homes in your area. If you know a real estate agent, ask her to run you a "comp" list for your home. The comp list provides you with sales of homes similar to yours in your area.

4. Gather information concerning homes comparable to yours that are listed for sale. Homes for sale are often listed through a service, and the sales information is available online. Print the details of the homes similar to yours. Make sure the sales data includes square footage and price.

5. Assign what you believe is a fair value to your home based on all the documentation you've collected. Document the reason you've decided on that amount, such as average value of home sales per square foot or average value of three-bedroom homes with over-sized lots.

6. File your documentation in an easy-to-follow manner, such as in a binder with tabs. The more organized and neat your documentation is, the easier the process will be.

7. Send your information to the taxing authority or appear for your hearing and present the information to the tax representative. State your case clearly.

References

• Consumer Affairs: How to Appeal Your Property Tax Bill