Are you someone who enjoys a chance to save some of your hard-earned cash? If so, that’s an excellent reason to question the way a Gwinnett County tax assessor assesses your home or business. You might be under the impression that your amount of property tax is something that is impossible to change, but that is far from the truth. Your local assessor sets the market value of your property which determines how much you pay in taxes every year.
Questioning Your Assessment Can Save You Money
When you start to pay more attention to the findings of the Gwinnett County tax assessor, you may end up realizing what your home is being over assessed. If that is the case, your property tax bill is going to be more expensive than it should be. Appealing the assessment is the only way you can change this information and get your bill lowered to save extra money this year.
This isn’t just a little bit of change either. In some cases, you could be paying in thousands of dollars more than you owe simply because you didn’t do a bit of research and see if the market value listed is appropriate for your property. While appealing can be a complicated process if it is new to you, it’s well-worth it if you end up saving cash on your property tax bill.
Find Out the Current Assessed Value of Your Home
When you receive a letter form the Gwinnett County tax assessor, it’s going to offer you information on how much your property is assessed for. Having the number is helpful but it’s not all that you will need to know. Each county in the state has a different ratio which equalizes your assessment using the value of the market in the area that year. This can seem overwhelming and complicated, but with the help of a professional, you can find out what your home is valued at and how local equalization factors in.
Consider That Your Property Might Also Be Underassessed
One of the things you will want to consider is whether your home is actually over assessed. This is what will lead to a potentially lower tax bill. On the other hand, while rare, if you are being underassessed for some reason it could lead to a larger tax bill. As such, it’s crucial that you talk to a professional to determine what the case is in your situation. If you’re underassessed, it might be best to drop the idea of an appeal and go on with your life. But if it’s the other way around, you’ll know that you can move forward without a problem.
Look at What Nearby Properties Values Are
If you decide that an appeal is the right decision for you, you next want to look into what other similar houses near you are selling for. This gives you a good idea of the value of property in your neighborhood. If you are getting a bill for a house that is supposed to be valued at $250,000 but homes just like it are selling for half of that, it’s worth going ahead with the appeal. Make sure to save this evidence for your case.
You May Need Only an Informal Hearing
Depending on the Gwinnett County tax assessor and your specific situation, you can attempt to hold an informal hearing where you explain you believe the findings of the assessor are incorrect. However, keep in mind that there is a deadline for this. You can find out what that deadline is by checking the back of your letter from the assessor. Make sure you handle any part of your appeal requirements before that date or you will be out of luck for the year.
Before you head in, write down any questions you have. Make notes of what you think might not be right so you can speak to the Gwinnett County tax assessor about those things. You will also want to have access to evidence of what you believe the error is. This might be appraisals, recent sales in the area, remodeling evidence, comparisons, or other materials. Go in and talk to the assessor and see if you can come to an agreement. If not, don’t worry. There are other options you can try at this point.
Formally Challenging the Findings of the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor
If you are still on board to appeal the decision, you will need to do so within the same deadline we mentioned earlier. You may be required to file this by mail or you may be able to do so by mail. You can find information on the requirements as well as what is needed from you on the local tax assessor’s website. Make sure to provide your evidence as well as whatever required information is needed by the Gwinnet County tax assessor for the appeal.
At that point you are in a position of a waiting game. After weeks or months you will be alerted as to whether the appeal is accepted or rejected. If you are accepted, you’re good to go. All you have to do is pay the new and lower tax bill. However, if you receive a rejection you will need to consider whether to appeal again. Many people win on the second appeal so don’t be afraid to attempt it.
What to Do to Get Things Started
We’ve mentioned that having the help of professionals can go a long way toward ensure your appeal is accepted and that’s a fact. However, if you aren’t sure where to start with that you might be wondering what to do. Thankfully, Fair Assessments, LLC is fully aware of how a Gwinnett County tax assessor does their work and can help you build your appeal. We have more than 20 years of experience and would be happy to work with you to get your appeal started. You can reach us at our website or by phone at 404-618-0355.
