| Empower Yourself To Reduce Your Property Tax |
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| Written by Heidi Messer | ||
 It would make sense to us as consumers that if our home values are plummeting due to the stale economy, that the taxes we pay on them would draw back for some relief as well. It's not a pleasant thought, but by the time the lower taxable values may be realized by the owners, the local governments will most likely be stretched so thin that the rates will have to be raised as well. We may not have much levity when it comes to lowering or keeping our taxes at an affordable and fair rate, nor can we do much about the tax policy that is controlled by the government. But you can most assuredly, make sure that your tax assessment is equitable to your property by arming yourself so as not to be overpaying.Take a close look at the following three ways to empower yourself when facing an assessment increase: First and foremost, check your local assessor's office for errors on your homes details. Make sure your square footage, rooms and improvements, if any, are listed exactly as your home is. Humans make errors and the assessor will most likely adjust your assessment on the spot should you point out such an error to them. Most homeowners aren't even remotely aware of inconsistencies in regards to their assessments and tend to just accept things at face value; especially in the older neighborhoods where the transfer to computers may have had to be done from paper records. Visit your local assessor's office or web site and make sure everything is copasetic about your homes details. While you're at it that web site or in the office, go ahead and pull the neighbors cards as for a comparison in style and value. Pull at least 5 other similar properties within 5 miles of your home and if they are assessed at 10% lower then yours, you could have a very good argument for the lowering of yours. Keeping equity amongst the owners is a big part of the assessors' job. If you are going to make a case for lowering of your assessment make sure you know the rules for appealing in your district and following them to the letter. They vary from township to township but the mainstay is that evidence is crucial to achieving your reduction goal. The similar property cards, photos and perhaps an appraisal of your property could be very useful when arguing your case for review but be sure the sought after decrease in your request is worth any monies you may have to fork out for an independent appraisal or any additional filing fees. Staying within the time limits is crucial and there are other levels of appeal which could take you as far as a judicial hearing in circuit court, if you aren't successful the first time around. For sure, taking your appeal to this level will involve filing and legal fees and possibly a witness fee or two from expert appraisers. Just bear in mind that the cost for further appeals could go beyond what your initial relief might be from the tax reduction. The American Homeowner's Association's Property Tax Reduction Kit might be worth the money.
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