It's that time of year when many of you receive your tax assessments. You have to answer a few questions: Is the assessment in line with market value, if not, How big is the discrepancy? and Is it worth appealing at all? Then, you have to figure out which process to take.
1) Is the assessment in line with market value? If you fee there may be a question, consult with your favorite real estate agent first. They would likely be able to give you a rough idea if there is a discrepancy.
2) How big is the discrepancy? The only way to know for sure is to have an agent perform a CMA, Competitive Market Analysis. Depending on the agent and your relationship with them, they may do it for free or a nominal charge. If the discrepancy is small, it's probably not worth paying for an appraisal which will cost approximately $400.
3) Is it worth appealing? If you find that there may be a large discrepancy after consulting with your agent or if you have done your own research, then it may be time to bring in an appraiser. At this point, you need to do the math. You need to figure out if the potential revised assessment will result in a low enough tax bill that it would pay for the appraisal. There is no guarantee the assessor will amend the assessment which means you may have to escalate to the next level of appeal.
The Tax Appeal Process
There is a three level process for appealing your property taxes in the State of Maryland. Below is from the state's website which clearly lays out the steps necessary. Please pay attention to the instructions on how to and how NOT to appeal your taxes. If come in with a bad attitude, you may hit a brick wall. Give the assessor a chance to "save face." Remember, they are estimating the values of thousands of properties. They are not going to get them all correct. Be respectful and make a reasoned appeal. Have your facts straight. I have helped a number of clients with the appeal process. An appraisal can go a long way in making your case for you. If you need an appraisal or just have questions on how or if you should proceed, contact at dom@corsonresidential.com Good Luck!
Property owners sometimes feel that the department's estimate of their property value is wrong. The assessment appeal process is available to allow property owners the opportunity to dispute the value determined by the department. Property values rise and fall to reflect the market. A property owner should file an appeal when they believe that their property is not valued at its current market value. Appeals may be filed on three occasions: upon receipt of an assessment notice; by a petition for review; and upon purchase of property between January 1 and June 30. APPEAL ON REASSESSMENT Property owners will normally receive a Notice of Assessment every three years that shows the old market value as well as the new market value. The new value reflects the market influence and other conditions affecting the property from the time of the last assessment. If you decide to appeal, the first step is to reply to the Notice of Assessment by signing and returning the appeal form within 45 days of the date of the notice. Following this, a personal or telephone hearing will be scheduled. Appeals can also be made in writing, eliminating the need for a hearing. PETITION FOR REVIEW You may file a petition for review by January 1 in the two years your property is not valued when events have occurred since your last regular assessment that you believe have caused your property value to decline. If you fail to respond to the Notice of Assessment within the required time frame, you may file a petition for review by January 1 for the following year. Click here to obtain a Petition form. The completed form should be mailed to your local assessment office. After filing the petition, you will be scheduled for a hearing, or, if you prefer, your written submission can be reviewed eliminating the need for a hearing. APPEAL UPON PURCHASE If you purchase a property and the property is transferred after January 1 but before July 1, you may file an appeal within 60 days of the transfer. After filing a written appeal, you will be scheduled for a hearing; or, if you prefer, your written appeal can be reviewed instead of having a hearing. FIRST STEP - SUPERVISOR'S LEVEL The first level of the appeal process, known as the Supervisor's level, is informal. You will present your case to an assessor designated by the Supervisor of Assessments. Typically, hearings at this level take approximately 15 minutes. You can obtain a copy of the worksheet for the property free of charge from your local assessment office. The information on the worksheet will be reviewed at the time of the hearing to assure its accuracy. For assistance in estimating the value of your property, you can obtain sales data from various sources, including: sales listings located in the local assessment office; commercially available sales reports and other information available at local libraries; local Real Estate offices; personal surveys of recently sold comparable properties in the area; and local listings of sales transactions in the newspaper. For a nominal fee, worksheets of comparable properties may be obtained from the assessment office. To be most effective, you should: Focus on those points that affect the value of your property. Indicate why the Total New Market Value does not reflect the market value of the property. Identify any mathematical errors on the worksheet or inaccurate information describing the characteristics of the property (such as the number of bathrooms, fireplaces, etc.). Provide examples of sales of comparable properties which support your findings as to the value of the property. Avoid the following issues since they are not relevant to the value under appeal: comparison to past values, percent of increase, additional metropolitan costs, the amount of the tax bill, properties in other taxing jurisdictions, and services rendered or not rendered. Your first level hearing should be viewed as an opportunity to present evidence which would indicate that the department's value of the property is inaccurate. SECOND STEP - PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL BOARD Following the hearing, you will receive a final notice. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the next step which is to theProperty Tax Assessment Appeal Board. The second step appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the final notice from the Supervisor of Assessments. There is an independent appeal board comprised of 3 local residents in each of the counties and Baltimore City. Property owners generally need no assistance at this step, no fees are required, and they are free to present any supporting evidence. You can obtain a list of the comparable properties that will be used by the assessment office before the Board if you file a written request to the assessment office at least 15 days before the scheduled date of the hearing. THIRD STEP - MARYLAND TAX COURT If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Appeal Board, you can file an appeal within 30 days of the date of the board's decision to the Maryland Tax Court. The Maryland Tax Court is an independent body appointed by the Governor. Although the proceedings are more formal than the first 2 levels, it is still considered to be an informal, administrative hearing. Property owners who are in disagreement with the Tax Court's decision can appeal further through the regular judiciary system. Here you will probably need legal counsel. RECAP The assessment appeal process is a mechanism intended to assure an accurate property valuation. If you believe that the value placed upon your property is higher than it should be and if you can provide supporting evidence (such as sales information for properties comparable to your own), then it is in your best interest to appeal.
Property owners sometimes feel that the department's estimate of their property value is wrong. The assessment appeal process is available to allow property owners the opportunity to dispute the value determined by the department. Property values rise and fall to reflect the market. A property owner should file an appeal when they believe that their property is not valued at its current market value.
Appeals may be filed on three occasions:
Property owners will normally receive a Notice of Assessment every three years that shows the old market value as well as the new market value. The new value reflects the market influence and other conditions affecting the property from the time of the last assessment.
If you decide to appeal, the first step is to reply to the Notice of Assessment by signing and returning the appeal form within 45 days of the date of the notice. Following this, a personal or telephone hearing will be scheduled. Appeals can also be made in writing, eliminating the need for a hearing.
You may file a petition for review by January 1 in the two years your property is not valued when events have occurred since your last regular assessment that you believe have caused your property value to decline. If you fail to respond to the Notice of Assessment within the required time frame, you may file a petition for review by January 1 for the following year. Click here to obtain a Petition form. The completed form should be mailed to your local assessment office. After filing the petition, you will be scheduled for a hearing, or, if you prefer, your written submission can be reviewed eliminating the need for a hearing.
If you purchase a property and the property is transferred after January 1 but before July 1, you may file an appeal within 60 days of the transfer. After filing a written appeal, you will be scheduled for a hearing; or, if you prefer, your written appeal can be reviewed instead of having a hearing.
The first level of the appeal process, known as the Supervisor's level, is informal. You will present your case to an assessor designated by the Supervisor of Assessments. Typically, hearings at this level take approximately 15 minutes.
You can obtain a copy of the worksheet for the property free of charge from your local assessment office. The information on the worksheet will be reviewed at the time of the hearing to assure its accuracy.
For assistance in estimating the value of your property, you can obtain sales data from various sources, including: sales listings located in the local assessment office; commercially available sales reports and other information available at local libraries; local Real Estate offices; personal surveys of recently sold comparable properties in the area; and local listings of sales transactions in the newspaper. For a nominal fee, worksheets of comparable properties may be obtained from the assessment office.
To be most effective, you should:
Your first level hearing should be viewed as an opportunity to present evidence which would indicate that the department's value of the property is inaccurate.
Following the hearing, you will receive a final notice. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the next step which is to theProperty Tax Assessment Appeal Board. The second step appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the final notice from the Supervisor of Assessments.
There is an independent appeal board comprised of 3 local residents in each of the counties and Baltimore City. Property owners generally need no assistance at this step, no fees are required, and they are free to present any supporting evidence. You can obtain a list of the comparable properties that will be used by the assessment office before the Board if you file a written request to the assessment office at least 15 days before the scheduled date of the hearing.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Appeal Board, you can file an appeal within 30 days of the date of the board's decision to the Maryland Tax Court. The Maryland Tax Court is an independent body appointed by the Governor. Although the proceedings are more formal than the first 2 levels, it is still considered to be an informal, administrative hearing. Property owners who are in disagreement with the Tax Court's decision can appeal further through the regular judiciary system. Here you will probably need legal counsel.
The assessment appeal process is a mechanism intended to assure an accurate property valuation. If you believe that the value placed upon your property is higher than it should be and if you can provide supporting evidence (such as sales information for properties comparable to your own), then it is in your best interest to appeal.