Owners of commercial property, both large and small, are complaining about skyrocketing property taxes. Many of them are even hiring tax consultants to reduce their property tax commercial liabilities and, in the process, enjoying substantial savings. In fact, filing an appeal against the property assessment is highly recommended.

If you’re wondering about the high property tax on your home, you should look into these factors. Keep in mind, too, that you have the right to appeal your property’s assessed value with the Board of Assessors or Board of Equalization. In turn, you have the opportunity to enjoy lower property taxes. 

According to the provisions in the 2015 House Bill 202 (HB 202) in the State of Georgia, you have the right to demand and the responsibility to attend a mandatory settlement conference with the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor when you appeal your value to Superior Court.  Keep in mind that your enhanced rights should be exercised since there will be consequences for your failure to follow through on your responsibility. Emphasis must be made that your failure to attend the conference will mean the inability to recover the attorney’s fees and court costs, when ultimately settled in court.

Being aware of the Fulton County property tax appeal timeline may seem straightforward, if not common sense, but many still fail to do so. This shouldn’t be, as missing a deadline will almost always guarantee a negative outcome, such as the dismissal of your appeal.

You should have received your annual assessment notice issued by the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor in early April. You will be deciding whether to accept the property valuation reflected on it – and pop an antacid while you’re at it – or challenge the appraised value by filing a formal appeal. You have to keep in mind, too, that taxes are a necessary evil since these are the government’s primary fund sources for social services, education, and infrastructure, among other government functions.

In 2015, the General Assembly of the State of Georgia passed House Bill 202 (HB 202), which introduced sweeping changes to the DeKalb County property tax assessment and appeal process. You have to be aware about these changes particularly about the lock-in period since it has an impact on the tax savings of a winning appeal.

As in any case where opposing parties have different opinions, the quantity and quality of the evidence matters in winning – and so it is with your property assessment appeal with the Gwinnett County property tax authorities.  You have to be prepared with the right information (i.e., evidence including documents and interviews) in order to have a greater chance of a winning appeal. Here are a few important things you have to know about it.

If you purchased real property last year, you have to be vigilant about the tax assessment this year as it can be over and above the purchase price of the subject property, and assessed higher than other comparable properties in the immediate area. Otherwise, your action may well be to accept the Fulton County property tax assessment and write a check for the taxes, when the tax bill comes. 

While many property owners/taxpayers believe that House Bill 202 (HB 202), which was passed by the State Assembly of Georgia after intensive deliberations, took effect only on 1 January 2016, this is not so. Many of the provisions in the statute passed into effect upon the approval of the Governor and as of July 1, 2015. Along with the Office of the DeKalb County Tax Assessor, which has a considerable stake in the law, you should be well aware of the changes that have considerable impact on your own stake as a property owner.

Aside from taking measures to reduce the appraised value or appealing the assessed value of your property, you can also enjoy a substantial Gwinnett County property tax reduction via tax exemptions. At present, residents of Gwinnett County can choose from 14 property tax exemptions including regular homestead, disabled veteran, and senior citizens exemptions.