Tips & Tricks for Appealing Property Taxes

Although 75% of property tax appeals are successful and save homeowners an average of $450, only 7% of homeowners appeal annually. Research indicates five primary reasons homeowners do not appeal:

The process seems overwhelming and they do not know how to appeal.

They do not think an appeal is likely to be successful.

They think their home's assessed value is below market value and there is no basis for appealing.

They do not understand they can appeal on unequal appraisal, (being assessed for more than similar properties).

They are busy and do not want to set aside time, given the presumption that "you can't fight city hall."

Consider an appeal for a $150,000 house where the value is reduced by 5%. This would reduce the assessed value by $7,500 and the property taxes by $225, based on a 3% tax rate. Since the typical appeal hearing takes less than an hour, these are meaningful savings for the time involved. Regularly appealing your property taxes will minimize the value, so you are assessed at the low end of the range. Most property tax appeals are resolved at the informal hearing, which is the first step in the process.

Questions?

E-mail O'Connor & Associates, or call 1-877-4-TAXCUT.

Don't pay more than your fair share of property taxes. Let O'Connor & Associates reduce your California property tax.
Oconnor & Associates can represent you at the Florida property tax .