Spending Too Much On Property Taxes? Appeal Them

Do you feel that the property taxes on your home do not match the current value of your home? With the housing market in the gutter, this happens all too frequently with homeowners and many do not know that they can do something about it. This post mainly discusses how you could ease the burden of your dreaded property taxes.

The appeal period in most Georgia counties is from January 1 to April 1 and, in counties that bill multiple times a year, the period is from January 1 to March 1. If you are doing an appeal in 2013, the taxes you are appealing are for 2012.

These taxes are essential for operating the local governments that often provide vital services for us but they should be based on the fair market value of the home. If property values have fallen in your community, then it should be reflected in the amount you are taxed on that property.

Tax officials, in most cases, will not just give you an adjustment, unless of course the fair market value goes up.

Generally, you might be able to get the valuation of your property reduced for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Your home, or construction of your home, is in worse condition than other comparable homes.
2. Your home is valued higher than other comparable homes in your neighborhood.
3. The taxing authority made an error that gives your home a value that is higher than it should have.
4. Your home’s value has gone down recently.
5. If you purchased recently, the price for your home is lower than the value given to your home by the taxing authority.

While this list shows some of the reasons you may use, each jurisdiction has its own particular reasons that work better than others. You can often can talk to your local assessor’s office and have it work with you in obtaining assistance on the best way to contest the valuation of your home.

Some taxing authorities have documents online to assist you in the process of contesting your taxes; others will guide you through the process either online or by working with them at their offices. This process is not always successful and requires documentation of your home. To ensure the best possible result, you should contact an attorney. Contact me if you have any further questions.