The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office – or more appropriately, the Board of Tax Assessors (BOA) – is the local government agency where the property tax process essentially starts. Keep in mind that the BOA issues the Annual Notice of Assessment for each property owner in its jurisdiction and is the first venue for filing the formal tax assessment appeal. Failure to file the required paperwork for the tax appeal within 45 days of the date on the Annual Notice of Assessment means the assessed value is considered final and executory for the taxable period.
What can you expect when you first file your formal appeal? Here are the things that you can expect although you should also hire a tax consultant who can provide more detailed assistance. You will also benefit from the tax consultant’s comprehensive knowledge about the ins and outs of the Fulton County Tax Assessors’ procedures and processes.
Start of the Process at the BOA
You have to file a formal appeal, which can either be a formal business letter or a standard appeal form, with the BOA. While you are required to express your opinion about your property’s market value, you are not bound to stick to that value through the appeal process. Your letter/form should contain relevant information including complete address of the property, grounds for appeal, and choice of venue, among others. Your direct-to-the-point approach in the letter will facilitate the process as the BOA can immediately pinpoint your cause for appeal.
After the appeal is filed you will receive notification from the assessors that your appeal was received. The assessor staff will then take the time to review market data and any other issues you have brought up to make a decision about your appeal. You and the Fulton County Tax Assessors can agree to end the appeal at any point, if you agree to the final assessed value of your property. You will find that the BOA may likely be receptive to an early settlement. This will free up man hours and will result in easier collection of taxes, among other mutual benefits.
End of the Process in the BOA
If you don’t talk to the assessment staff or don’t agree on a value then you will receive either a No Change Letter or a 30-Day Letter depending on the BOA’s decision. The No Change Letter means that the BOA stands by its original assessed value on your property, thus, your appeal will be automatically forwarded to the next stop in the appeals process – typically the Board of Equalization. You don’t have to take any other action.
The 30-day Letter means that the BOA has finally seen the error of its ways where your property’s assessed value is concerned and offers you a new taxable value. You can accept or reject the BOA’s new assessed value but if rejecting it you have to formally inform – in writing - the assessors about your decision. You have 30 days to express your decision, thus, the name of the letter. Your failure to reject the BOA’s decision, furthermore, will mean that you have accepted the new assessed value with the BOA considering it as the final value.
When you work with the system, you will likely see the Fulton County Tax Assessors tax appeal process is not your enemy in getting a fairer valuation of your property’s assessed value.
