Who let the dogs out? Once again the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor has taken the lead in the 2014 assessment notice releases (the dogs). Gwinnett was first out in 2013 also and only waits a few days after the property tax return deadline date of April 1 to send out the tax assessment notices. The Gwinnett County Tax Assessor website stated that the taxpayers return of real property is not required and I do not disagree with that. 

There are two types of property taxes in America, one is the tax on the value of your land and buildings, and the second is on accessories such as machinery, delivery vans, and business furniture, also called personal property. For owners and managers of commercially intensive properties such as office buildings, retail, hotels and shopping centers it is vital that you ensure the tax assessment on your property is not exaggerated at your expense. 

Taxes are perhaps the one sure thing in life – no matter where you live, you’ll have to pay taxes in one form or another, from income tax to sales tax to property tax. While many times there’s little you can do about how much you owe, that might not be the case with your property taxes. In fact, you might have the grounds to appeal to your Clayton County tax assessor and have your taxes reduced. How do you tell if that’s the case?

Regular property assessments are the backbone of the property tax system in Fulton County and the rest of Georgia’s counties. The current system requires that Fulton County tax assessors value each home in the county over the course of several years to assess the home’s condition and value based on a variety of different factors. From that assessment, you will pay property taxes. However, are those Fulton County tax assessors responsible for creating accurate assessments actually creating inaccuracies?

Property taxes are high and getting higher. In fact, the National Taxpayers Union expects property taxes to continue rising across the country for the next several years. It’s a vicious circle, and one that virtually every homeowner in Georgia must face. However, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck paying what the Gwinnett County property tax office says you owe. You might be one of the many homeowners who is being over assessed and paying too much in property tax ever year. Below, you’ll find important tips to help get your tax burden reduced if you are being over assessed.

Property taxes come around every year. They’re based on the county government’s assessment of your property’ value, multiplied by the local tax rate. Given the fact that property taxes are an annual expense for home and business owners, you’d think that there was a higher than likely chance that the amount being assessed would be accurate. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Too many homeowners are overpaying on their Cobb County tax burdens. Thankfully, there are ways around this. What do you need to know as a Cobb homeowner or business owner?

For business owners and residents of DeKalb County, property taxes are due annually. You’ll receive a letter from the DeKalb County tax assessor stating the taxable value and amount you owe in taxes, and when that payment is due. If you don’t pay the tax by the due date, you are in danger of going into delinquency, and the county can take legal action against you. Of course, property taxes are always a burden, but your burden may or may not be accurate.

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin

No one likes taxes, but they’re an inescapable part of life. In order to have a functioning government, even on the local level, taxes must be assessed. Fulton County taxes come in several forms, including sales tax and property tax. The problem here is that inaccuracies in the mass property appraisal method used by Fulton County tax assessors lead to over assessment and errors, costing you more each year in property taxes. What’s the problem?

You expect your local government to be as accurate as possible in its procedures, and for the most part, Gwinnett County does a good job of that. However, there’s one area where you might find their judgment doesn’t meet with your own – property value assessment. It’s possible, even likely, that the Gwinnett County tax assessor has over assessed your property. What does that mean for you and how can you rectify the situation? Here’s what you should know.

Property tax is inevitable – if you own a home or a business, you will have to pay taxes to the county in which you’re located. For Cobb County residents, that means you’ll be dealing with the Cobb County tax assessor. Once per year, you’ll receive a notification of what you owe in taxes by mail. That notification can come as something of a shock given the rising rate of property taxes in Georgia (and the still low values of properties). There’s good news, though. Your assessment might actually be inaccurate. If it is, you can have your property taxes reduced. How do you go about doing that?