Is it worth the time and effort it takes to file an appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board in Cobb or Gwinnett County? The simple answer is "Yes," but there are some things you know before you do so.
While home and commercial property values continue to appreciate -- and that is good news -- the corresponding increases in property tax valuations mean that your annual tax bill also continues to rise. Be sure you take full advantage of any authorized tax breaks that may be applicable in your particular situation before you lament the growing tax burden.
The most common tax reduction categories include:
- Standard Homestead Exemption
- Senior Citizen Exemption
- Veterans Exemptions
In addition, there is a 100% exemption from property taxes for a surviving spouse of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty who has not remarried.
Your local county tax assessor will be able to supply additional information, along with forms and deadline information about filing for these and various other available exemptions.
Then, if you still believe your annual tax assessment is too high, arm yourself with the facts about the procedures required to dispute the tax assessment notice you receive. Notice dates vary by county, but are typically sent out in the spring.
First and foremost, there is a strict time limit for questioning your tax assessment. Appeals must be filed within 45 days of the notice's mailing date, and each country has specific requirements for filing.
Disputing a tax assessment is not only appropriate, but the action is also important to ensure that the taxes collected accurately reflect the worth of local real estate. Any increase in assessed value should be in line with current market valuations.
Tax assessments in each Georgia county are derived from complicated formulas, and are typically are based on a percentage of fair market value. Actual formulas differ from one county to another, as do the tax rates, which are set by each county's governing authorities on an annual basis. Over and under-valuation are equally unfair, and the property tax appeal process is designed to detect possible errors in valuation, as well as to allow property owners a voice in the process.
Gwinnett County, for example, reports that its average tax collection represents approximately 1% of the property's fair market value, while Cobb County, according to official records, collects on average only 0.79% of a property's assessed fair market value. If you're interested in the assessment and tax figures in other Atlanta-area counties, check here.
An appeal may be based on a variety of assertions, and professional assistance is available if you decide to seek an assessment adjustment. Fair Assessments, LLC, is an experienced advocate for property owners in all metropolitan Atlanta Counties, including Fulton County and DeKalb County. Contact us to see how we might help reduce your assessment and save you money.
