In my experience is a very rare occurrence. Although there is currently no prohibition against the raising of a property tax value in appeal in the Southeastern States I am familiar with, most counties and cities will not do this. In many cases the reason that the tax assessment should be raised is because the assessors property description is incorrect.
During the review of the property description as a result of the appeal the assessor may discover characteristics that add value. However, the reason the assessors property description is incorrect is because the assessor's office did not follow up on building permits, or haven't reviewed their property descriptions for the county or city as a whole for many years or even decades. Because this is not the property owners fault assessors generally will not penalize the property owner in the year they appeal. Typically they wait until the following year to add value as a result of changes to the property description.
I highly recommend that any property owner that is considering appealing their property tax assessment should go to the County and ask for a copy of their property record cards. This will give you the counties description of your property. The property record cards may have many codes on it that are incomprehensible. Ask the assessor's office for a key to what these codes mean. Thoroughly review the property record card and be certain that it is accurate before you file a property tax appeal. You don't want to appeal your value if your house is a two-story McMansion and the assessor shows it is a one-story bungalow.
Use your head, gather solid market data that supports a lower value, and just do it!
For professional assistance with your property tax appeals contact Fair Assessments LLC your property tax advisers.
During the review of the property description as a result of the appeal the assessor may discover characteristics that add value. However, the reason the assessors property description is incorrect is because the assessor's office did not follow up on building permits, or haven't reviewed their property descriptions for the county or city as a whole for many years or even decades. Because this is not the property owners fault assessors generally will not penalize the property owner in the year they appeal. Typically they wait until the following year to add value as a result of changes to the property description.
I highly recommend that any property owner that is considering appealing their property tax assessment should go to the County and ask for a copy of their property record cards. This will give you the counties description of your property. The property record cards may have many codes on it that are incomprehensible. Ask the assessor's office for a key to what these codes mean. Thoroughly review the property record card and be certain that it is accurate before you file a property tax appeal. You don't want to appeal your value if your house is a two-story McMansion and the assessor shows it is a one-story bungalow.
Use your head, gather solid market data that supports a lower value, and just do it!
For professional assistance with your property tax appeals contact Fair Assessments LLC your property tax advisers.
