The Most Important Things to Consider With Fulton County Tax Assessor Review and Appeal

Do you have a suspicion that your Fulton County property tax is too high? While it is certainly true that most people believe their taxes are too high and wish that they could pay less, there is a chance that it could be true in your case. Even though the tax assessor’s office does try to be as accurate as possible with their assessments, they do not always succeed.

If an area does bulk assessments, or if they are utilizing old information, or incorrect information, there is always the chance that they information they have on your property, whether it is a home or a business, is incorrect. If the Fulton County tax assessor has provided an incorrect value for your property, it could mean you are paying too much for your property taxes.

When you feel that is the case, you might want to ask them to review their findings, and you may potentially have to appeal. The following are some of the most important things you will need to consider in these cases.

Pay Attention to the Assessment Letter

The first and most important thing that you need to consider when it comes to your property taxes is your assessment letter. Many people simply get the letter in the mail, look at the amount, and then pay their taxes without really digging too deeply. You want to make sure that this is correct, and that the amount seems appropriate. Is it vastly different from what it was a year ago? Do they have the size of your property correct? Are the number of rooms accurate? Did they factor in the fact that you have had to do repairs or that there are issues with the home?

Many different elements will affect the overall value of the home, and you must be sure those are reflected in your assessment. If you feel there is a mistake, you will want to make sure that you get in touch with them to let them know that it needs a review, but more on that later.

Check Comparable Homes

To determine whether the change in the value of your property could be due to shifts in the market, you will need to consider some of the comps in your area. These are simply comparable homes to your own. You want to get a better sense of the value of the homes that are in the area and that are about the same size with the same number of rooms, etc. They are comparable to your home. If you see that the value of those properties is vastly different from your own home, then it could mean that the Fulton county tax assessor has made an error.

Remember the Deadlines

If you plan to ask for a review, you need to do so sooner rather than later. There will be a date indicated on your assessment letter. You will need to file for a review by that date. If you don’t, you will not be able to have your Fulton County property tax reviewed for the year. If you then need to file an appeal, you will again have a deadline that you will need to meet. Always make sure you are paying close attention to the deadlines.

Ask for a Review

If you believe that the property taxes are not correct, you can follow the instructions on the assessment letter and file for a review with the tax assessor’s office. This does not mean that the review is going to turn out in your favor, of course. You might find that they do not agree with you. However, you can still file for an appeal if needed.

Choosing the Best for Help With Appeals

As you can imagine, understanding the entire reviews and appeals process, and knowing whether your home has been overvalued in the first place, can be quite difficult and time-consuming on your part. Most people are not going to want to go through all of this trouble on their own. Fortunately, you will not have to. You can always work with a professional in the area who can take care of it for you. They can make sure that your property is overvalued for the taxes and they can help with the paperwork that goes to the assessor’s office.

Make sure the company has the experience needed to help, though. They need to have experience working with properties like yours and in your county. If they have spent time working for a tax assessor’s office, that’s a bonus. Finding a true professional for your residential and commercial property tax assessment needs can make a real difference.

Understand It Can Take Time

The process for reviews and appeals can take time – months or longer in many cases. It will often depend on just how busy they are at the time of your appeal. However, if you have a chance to save a substantial amount of money on your taxes, it tends to be worth the time it takes. The professional with whom you are working can give you a better idea of just how much time it might take for the appeal to go through based on their past experience.

You Might Want to Appeal Low Values, Too

Most of the time, people are worried about their properties being overvalued because it means they are paying too much on their taxes. However, a property that has been undervalued can be just as problematic, if you are looking to sell. After all, you want to get top dollar for the property, and if it has been undervalued by the tax assessor, you will be hard-pressed to find people who want to pay what you feel is a decent price for the property.

Again, working with a professional who understands property valuation, and who can work to make sure you have an accurate reflection of your property, can make a big difference.