Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment
Okay - so you have filed your Decline in Value and the Assessor has responded in one of the following ways:
1) They have granted your Decline in Value in full
2) They have lowered your assessment but not to the level you believed you qualified for
3) They denied your claim entirely
The next step in the process is for you to file an assessment appeal. Recently many counties have imposed a fee to file this appeal so you may have to pay a nominal fee ($50 in Alameda County for example). This will be your chance to plead your case before a Board or an Officer. These are public hearings - you are free to attend prior to your case so that you know what to expect.
1. Understand exactly what you are appealing (usually the valuation of your property - decline in value)
2. Fill out the Application Form correctly. Read the instructions carefully! Column 4B is where you will enter your Opinion of the Value - you must fill this out. Hint - keep the land and building percentage the same as in column 4A (what the county tax assessor currently has). Sign it at the bottom!
3. To prepare for the hearing remember that an information that you wish to be considered must be presented at the hearing. If you wish to include a real estate brokers opinion of value - the broker must be present for the opinion to be admissible.
4. Remember that market comps should be near the date of the valuation date of your property - which is January 1st.
5. Market comps are "arms length, open market". The similar factors to look for are LOCATION, time (no more that 90 days after), physical characteristics and features. You can find information at your County Assessors office - be sure to drive by your comps and bring pictures!
6. Exchange of Information - this is a formal exchange that is rarely utilized in residential cases - however it can be effectively used to prepare your case (as well as helping them prepare their's).
7. The hearing - don't get nervous, remember to speak slowly and listen attentively. Be Professional, Clear and Concise!
The California State Board of Equalization has put together a great series of videos to help:
Click Here