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Have you ever wondered just how the Fulton County tax assessor has come to their conclusion regarding the value of your property? Do you worry that they might be incorrect and that you could be paying too much in property taxes? If so, you aren’t alone. People all around the state, and all around the country for that matter, worry that their property taxes might be too high. Research has shown that in many cases, those homeowners are actually correct. There is a good chance that you are paying too much in property taxes.
The problem comes from too few people actually doing anything about it. They look at their property taxes, think that it looks like it might be a little bit too high, and then they just end up paying it anyway. Instead, it makes much more sense to take the time to learn more about how the Fulton County tax assessor does their job, the things they look at, and the potential errors that could be made. Then, you can make a better decision of whether you believe you should challenge the assessment that has been made for your property.
Data and Information Used
Because of the number of homes that are located in Fulton County, tax assessors are not able to come out to each and every property and do an in-person inspection. This means that they are relying on older paperwork, data, and comp properties when they are coming up with the value of your property. Let’s look at where things can go wrong in each of these areas.
First, there is the size of the property. Misplaced decimal points on the paperwork at any stage can wreak havoc here. Imagine if you have a 1.3-acre property, but you are suddenly being charged property taxes for a 13-acre property. There is quite a difference. Not all mistakes will be quite that large and pronounced, but even a small difference can add up to paying more in taxes than you should.
Along the same lines, you will want to double and triple-check the information that they used regarding the square footage of the buildings on the property. There could be mistakes hiding there, as well. Keep in mind that the square footage is not the only errors that there could be describing your buildings. There might be misinformation on the number of rooms in the property. A home that has two bathrooms will be valued differently than a four-bathroom home. The same is true when it comes to bedrooms.
The condition of the property is also important. If the condition of the property is not quite as nice as what the assessors believe it is based on age and other factors, they could have valued it too high. Some pictures of the property might be able to help your case as part of your evidence in these instances.
One of the other items used by Fulton County tax assessors is comp properties. These are comparable properties to your own. It simply means that they have a similar size, similar features and that they are in the area. The assessors want to know what those comp properties sold for, which can help to give them a better idea of the value of your property. These are not always entirely accurate, of course, as there are many factors that can affect how much someone pays for a home.
You Believe They Made a Mistake
When you look at the information the Fulton County tax assessor used for your home, you have found some errors that are obvious and that need to be corrected. There might be errors in some cases that seem like they will be a little harder to prove. Regardless, you will want to file for your appeal as soon as possible. There is a limited amount of time to appeal. You will want to look at the date provided on your taxes to make sure you file your appeal soon enough.
You need to be sure that the assessor’s office was operating on the right assumptions about your home, and you need to correct them if they were not. This means that you will need to have proof that they were wrong.
Consider the information that was used by the tax assessor when they were making their decision. You need to find evidence that backs up your case and refutes theirs. This might include land surveys, blueprints of your home, contractor’s reports, repair costs, and even getting an appraisal from an unbiased professional. You could also take photos when there is a discrepancy, as mentioned earlier. For example, the information the assessor used might say that you have a back porch when you don’t. Photos of your home can prove that you do not have a porch.
There are plenty of different types of evidence that can be used to build a case in your favor. However, the type of evidence you need, and the amount of evidence, will vary on a case-by-case basis.
Get Some Help for Your Case
When you are considering appealing your property tax, it’s not something that you can take lightly. You need to make sure you are adhering to all of the deadlines involved, and you need to be sure that you are getting the help you need when it comes to actually finding the evidence. Could you do it on your own? While it’s possible, it eats up a lot of time that you might not have. It also requires some knowledge and knowhow that can be difficult to develop in a matter of weeks. You are much better off working with a professional instead.
Consider getting in touch with our office today. We have a wealth of experience in the field of property valuation and property tax appeals, and we work hard to make sure our clients receive the fair treatment and the fair assessments that they truly deserve.
