Getting Approved Appeals at the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor

Posted by Jill Noelle Olandria on May 13, 2015 11:30:00 AM

Every year, the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor and the authorized appraisers conduct property inspections to determine changes in the current fair market values of the residential and commercial properties under their jurisdiction. These property inspections can be carried out even when the homeowners are away since the appraisers usually just inspect the exteriors of the property, not the interiors. In case the homeowner is in, the appraisers will typically just ask questions while outside the locked door.

The importance of participating in these annual property inspections, when possible, cannot be overemphasized. As a homeowner, you can answer the questions of the appraiser as well as ask a few questions of your own. The exchange of questions and answers can contribute to a fairer assessment.

But when you believe that the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor has provided an unreasonably high appraised and assessed value, you should file an appeal. Here are tips to increase your chances of getting a reduced assessed property value and, thus, a reduced tax estimate and tax bill.

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#1 Determine the Timeline of the Appeal

Time is of the essence when filing an appeal against the assessed value of your property, as indicated on the current year’s Annual Notice of Assessment. You have 45 days from the date indicated on the notice to file your appeal, thus, emphasizing the importance of looking out for the notice in the mail.  

#2 Communicate with the Assessor

Write a formal letter addressed to the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor, or use the Georgia appeal form, requesting a copy of the data they used to arrive at their value. Be sure to send your letter via certified mail since it is proof that your communication was sent within the 45-day deadline for appeals. You should then receive a copy of the tax assessment data within a few weeks.

#3 Review the Assessment Data

Regardless of the work experience of the appraisers, they are just human and, hence, susceptible to errors. You should look at the property record for errors in information and computation. You are well-advised to ask for the unbiased opinion of appraisal experts like Fair Assessments, thus, increasing your chances for successfully appealing your property’s assessed value and tax.

#4 Compare Property Values

The Gwinnett County Tax Assessor usually determines a property’s appraised value by comparing it with the comparable properties in the neighborhood. You must then make comparisons between your property’s appraised values with those of your neighbors’ properties. You can either get information from the assessor’s office or hire a real estate agent or an objective appraiser for the job.

From your comparisons, you can make a stronger case against the unfairly or unreasonably high appraised value for your property.

#5 File Your Appeal

You can ask the county appraisers for an informal meeting in case the error can be fixed. But in most cases, you must be prepared to file your formal appeal and attend the formal hearing to present your proof – truly, your opportunity to get a reduced assessed value and, thus, a reduced tax bill.

For more information about the appeals process, you should contact the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor but be sure to contact us, too, for third-party guidance about the matter.

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