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Advisement On How To Appeal Property Tax

By Catherine Parker


Among the cons of living in a capitalist empery is the need to pay taxes. However, youre a contented citizen and couldnt really care less. Unless, of course, if youre being duped. As it is, an estimated thirty to sixty percent of taxable properties are said to have an inflated assessment. If it seems that youre included in this statistic, its time to know how to appeal property tax in Georgia.

Millage rates are a kind of ad valorem tax based on the real estates value. Its usually charged by the authorities in ones jurisdiction. It is estimated through the equivalent monetary value of your property, manually appraised by certain representatives.

The tracts charged include houses, farms, commercial premises, and similar realties. It takes into account the fixtures and amenities located in the acreage. The aspects factored in are the size, location, utility, and its nature, for example if its used as a commercial or residential space and also if it has fixtures and some such amenities. The desirability of your land is also considered, as well as its accessibility and other particularities.

The tax is assessed through multiplying tax rate and current market values. These are not automatic decisions. Rather, they are established by local government officials who can inevitably make mistakes. Therefore, its acceptable and justifiable to question certain assessments that may seem faulty to you.

Tax assessors determine the value of acreages in many ways. Most likely, these are based on the fair market value, or the compromised selling price between buyer and seller. Its also important to know that revaluation is a common occurrence, in that the worth of property changes over time. Real estate values must be reassessed from time to time, advisably every three years.

And so, you think that your realty has been appraised out of proportion. Theres totally no stopping you from challenging it, and youre actually given a limited amount of time to appeal it. This is the time to take a breather, though, and take things into perspective. As it is, the process cant be worth the grind some of the times, and it may ultimately take more than its actually worth.

Also, consider that an appeal will lower just your real estate assessment and not the rate at which youre taxed, per se. Therefore, the difference can still be negligible in that you are only able to save, say, twenty dollars while you have taken all expensive legal recourses and even wasted valuable time. Also, there might be the slightest chance that instead of being lowered, the valuation is actually raised because of some appurtenances overlooked by the appraiser. And, lastly, its up to you if youre too honest for your own good, but reduction in assessments will inevitably hurt your houses sale price.

However, if its really so non negotiable and you cant bear the discrepancy, there are procedures to be followed. First off, check all facts and figures such as the square footage, number of bathrooms and bedrooms, presence and functionality of certain amenities, and some such. Also, collect some comps. These are properties that are comparable with your own, such that of a neighbors house that has the same space and amenities. If you find some inconsistencies, youre entitled to contest the value. You can do this through a phone call to the appraiser or writing an official letter of appeal addressed to the board of review. Supporting documents would greatly leverage your case. After all this, you will receive a decision, usually in writing, within three months or so, and a corresponding tax bill is sent along with it.

Taxes are useful for the public weal. Its being used to pay for public amenities and services. However, it follows that you must only pay whats worth. That will only be fair and fitting to you as a responsible taxpayer.




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