If you have been a homeowner for a while, you know the drill when it comes to property tax bills. Every year the Fulton County tax assessor sends out bills and property owners have to pay taxes on the land and buildings they own. Regardless of how high your bill is this year, you likely want to avoid spending extra money when it’s not required. That’s also why homeowners just like you choose to appeal their property assessment to ensure their bills are fair.
This is a process that can be quite intensive, and it will take quite a bit of time and effort. There’s nothing worse than going through all of that effort only to find out you made a mistake that backfires on your case. That’s exactly why we want to offer insight into some common mistakes to avoid when dealing with the Fulton County tax assessor.
Not Meeting the Required Deadlines
This is probably one of the most common mistakes an individual can make when appealing the findings of the Fulton County tax assessor. Missing details like not appealing in the required time can cause your case to lose steam before it even really begins. You have to meet the filing deadlines that the government puts in place.
Not sure what that deadline is? It can vary so the best way to find out is to check your tax bill for a date. If you don’t see one or aren’t sure it’s legitimate, it’s time to contact the Fulton County tax assessor and find out what dates apply. This is one of the most important things you can do so don’t blow it off or assume it will be fine. If your appeal is a day late, you aren’t going to get the results you want.
Forgetting to Show Up at a Required Hearing
Skipping any required hearing during the appeals process is not a good plan. Check and double-check if you need to show up to anything and make sure it’s featured on your calendar. If you do end up missing the appeals hearing of the finding from the Fulton County tax assessor, you are going to forfeit the appeal. That means your tax bill is going to stand.
Sure, you can appeal next year but for the time being, you will be required to pay the tax bill as it is presented to you. So, as mentioned, be certain you know about important dates and show up on time on the day of the hearing.
Stopping the Process After a Rejected Appeal
Many people will ignore their appeal of the finding by a Fulton County tax assessor at the point where they are given a rejection. This might be due to not realizing there are still options or not wanting to go through the extra work of preparing for a second appeal. This is something you need to decide for yourself but after doing all the work you already have, it’s well worth pushing for a lowered tax bill if that’s what you believe that you deserve.
If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by things after having an appeal rejected, one of the best options is to work with a professional who can help you get things ready for the second round. The reality is that a second appeal is quite likely to change things so it’s important to go through with it if at all possible. If you decide not to or miss the deadline for a second appeal, you might end up beating yourself up about it down the line.
Only Doing the Bare Minimum in Terms of Research
While there are a lot of things that go into appealing the decision of the Fulton County tax assessor and it can be challenging to complete, it needs to be done. If you don’t put in the work to find evidence that your taxes should be lower, you likely aren’t going to get the accepted appeal that you are gunning for. That means you need to do research on the actual value of your property.
This can be done by looking at the value of your neighbors’ homes, but this is really the bare minimum required. Many different things play into how much your home value should be. For example, if your neighbor has a two-bedroom home with a one-car garage and no pool but your home has three bedrooms, a two-car garage, and an in-ground pool, your property is going to be assessed higher by the Fulton County tax assessor.
Choosing Not to Utilize the Help of Professionals
There is nothing saying that you can’t appeal the decision of the Fulton County tax assessor on your own. However, that also doesn’t mean that going that way is the right choice to make. There are many complexities to appealing your tax bill and making a mistake at any point can lead to problems down the road. The review board is going to have lots of questions to ask you regarding improvements made on your home, appraisals on the property, home value changes, and other things.
If you can answer those questions, you can go through the process alone. However, most people can be aided by a professional who will know every step of the process from start to finish. Having someone to help you built your case can give you the information and confidence that you need to go forward and win your appeal. If nothing else, it will offer you a level of preparation appropriate for whatever comes next.
Are you wondering what other mistakes are common while appealing the Fulton County tax assessor’s decision? The experts at Fair Assessments, LLC can offer the knowledge and insight you need. We have decades of experience in the business dealing with tax assessment appeals in Florida. To learn more you can visit our website or email us at info@Fair-Assessments.com.
