If you have a property tax assessment you think is too high, you don't have to just go along with it. Instead, you can appeal tax assessment information and try to have your assessment lowered. Whether you're in Cobb County or Gwinnett County, you have the right to dispute the amount you're being asked to pay for the taxes on your property.
Why is Your Valuation Higher?
Much like Fulton County and DeKalb County, Cobb and Gwinnett counties have opportunities for both residential and commercial real estate owners to ask for a reduction in their property taxes. Most commonly, the amount is higher than expected due to a change in the assessed value of the property. But why did that value rise? If the value of your property went up, but that wasn't the case with other properties around you, there may have been a mistake in the valuation.
Another reason that the valuation or assessment on the property is higher could be what has happened to the surrounding property. In other words, if nearby property was purchased for a large sum of money and is being developed, it's possible that your property value has gone up simply from being close to the other property. In those cases, it may be harder to get the valuation of your property back down to its original level.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to appeal tax assessment information you don't agree with. By following the right procedures for your appeal, you can have your voice heard and find out whether you can see your valuation lowered, so your property taxes come down. They may not return to where they were during the previous assessment period, but they could still be lower than what the current assessment shows.
Appeal Your Assessment the Right Way
Cobb County and Gwinnett County both have options for you to appeal tax assessment issues online. You can also do so by mail, if you don't have internet access or would prefer to do things in writing. Whichever you choose, though, be sure to note that you only have a 45-day period from the day your notice of valuation is sent out to appeal that valuation. If you don't agree, don't wait.
Follow the appeals process by filling out the correct form, and you can track your appeal online through the county's system. Then when your appeal has been decided, you'll receive information about the decision. Sometimes you can appeal tax assessment concerns and have your appeal denied, but you don't have to give up. You can appeal again, and the issue will move up to the next level in the appeals process.
That second appeal could make the difference between paying too high of a property tax valuation, or having it reduced to something more manageable. Make sure you appeal promptly, and don't be afraid to say that you feel your valuation is much too high. If you don't appeal, you won't have the opportunity to have the valuation changed.
