Property owners should carefully review their assessment notice. If they have questions or concerns, they should contact their local assessor. If they have further concerns, they should exercise their right to appeal. However, because of Proposal A, an appeal may not result in lower taxes. Property values may be declining, but that does not always mean a decline in property taxes just as increasing property values do not translate into a corresponding equivalent percentage increase in taxes.
Here is a summary of the steps you should take:
1. Review your home's records in the assessment . Is the square footage correct? How about the number of bedroom, full baths, and half baths?
2. Compare your home's assessment with property tax assessments of comparable homes. Do you have the lowest square footage on your street, but the highest assessed value? If so, you may be able to do something about it. Look at all the variables- the year the house was built, lot size, brick veneer vs. siding, decks and patios, etc. In addition to your jurisdiction's Web database, you can also contact me or ARealtor or State licenced apprasor.
3. Meet the assessor informally
Go over the evidence you found in support of a lower value. This meeting might be hard to arrange in larger towns, but it's worth trying. If the assessor more or less agrees with you, the rest of the process will be a lot faster and smoother.
Attitude is important. You're showing the assessor how his appraiser messed up. Don't add to his defensiveness by tossing verbal grenades like "I pay your salary." If the assessor won't budge, make him /her explain why. Take notes: He's handing you his battle plan for the formal appeal. Keep records of your research and build your case. You may even consider getting an independent assessment. However, check the rules governing assessment appeals in you jurisdiction for specifics.
There are several online resources that offer additional information, such as
:http://www.a2gov.org/government/financeadminservices/assessor/Documents/Assessors_Explanation.pdf
Muskegon County Equalization
www.co.muskegon.mi.us/equalization/forms.htm
LowTaxRate.com is a good online resource for gaining insight into the assessment and appeal process.
Money Magazine published this article on lowering your property tax.
MarketWatch published this article on lowering your property's assessment.
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