(2010) The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, shows a 53.2% decline in housing prices in the Atlanta region from 2007 through 2009. During this same period, the assessed value of homes in the Atlanta region declined only 4%! The result, according to a recent five-part series in the AJC, is that “7 out of 10 properties are over-assessed.”
Home owners are being ripped-off!
We can provide tips to survive this year’s tax assessments!
To get started…..
STEP 1 “What can I do now?” (Due on or before April 1st for Fulton, March 1st for DeKalb)
Fill out and return to the Board of Assessors, 141 Pryor Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, the TPA form (Real Estate Property Tax Return0. You should indicate the value of your property, sign the form, and send it by certified mail, return-receipt requested. Not sure what value to declare? Take advantage of our assessment promotion during the winter months (January-March) offering Current Members property assessments for $35.00 per property. New members receive a complimentary property assessment. If you refer a new member, YOU will receive 20% off your appeal representation fee! After April 1st, the cost of an early determination workup is $150.00.
The value of your property should be based on market value determined by recent sales. Recent sales may be available from your neighborhood Realtor or on-line, www.fultonassessor.org. If your value is rejected, the county will notify you by sending the required Notice of Reassessment.
STEP 2 “What happens after I file my TPA?”
During the summer months (April-June) of each year, each property owner (who files a TPA) will receive a Notice of Reassessment. You may not receive a Notice of Assessment unless you file a TPA form. The letter will indicate what value the county has assigned to your property and last year’s value. You have 45 days to alert the county of your intentions to appeal. A template for this letter can be found on this page, under Forms.
If you are wanting the FCTF to handle your appeal, please send a copy of your assessment letter and the membership fee of $50.00.
Pay for your membershipHERE
STEP 2.5 “Will the Board of Assessors notify me?”
Yes, the BOA will notify you a few months after you send in your letter of intent, based off the values provided in your Notice of Reassessment. They may offer you a new value, based on supporting information. If a new value if offered, please contact our office immediately to discuss. If no value was offered, you do nothing. A Board of Equalization hearing date and time will be mailed within a few months.
STEP 3 “I received my hearing date, now what?”
Call, email or fax your hearing date information to our office IMMEDIATELY. Please do not wait until a week before your hearing to make first contact. While we have handled many last minute hearings successfully, we prefer to have as much time as allotted to prepare your case.
“What else should I know about property appeals?”
The process takes 8-12 calendar months to complete. While there are many ways that a Taxpayer can appeal their property taxes, the Foundation and its colleagues feel that having appeals heard at the Board of Equalization allows for more negotiation. Out of all the cases the Foundation assists, 94% have resulted in a reduction.
Is The State Legislature Considering Property Tax Reform?
Senator Chip Rogers is the Majority Leader of the Senate. He serves as Chairman of the Property Tax & Appeal Committee Senator Rogers feels that the present property tax system is unfair. “We’d like to have year-round appeals, with automatic notices of assessment to every property owner every year, guaranteeing the right to appeal. Furthermore, when you purchase a property in an arms length transaction, the price of the property should be the established value for the next taxing period.”
State Senator Chip Rogers
Home: 770-516-0543
Capitol: 404-463-1378
Chip@senatorchiprogers.com
236 State Capitol
We agree! Show support for property tax appeal reform by calling or sending an email to Senator Rogers. He welcomes individual stories and concerns about the property tax appeal process.
With five Certified Appraisers on our staff and with a success rate of
92%, the non-profit Taxpayers Foundation offers to appeal your reassessment at
the lowest, tax-deductible cost available. The
Foundation does not charge a percentage of taxes saved!
The advantages of being represented by the Taxpayers Foundation are
Professionalism, Convenience and Cost-Effectiveness
Professionalism: Each of our Appraisers is a highly-experienced
Certified Appraiser with a success rate of 92%.
Convenience: Why go to the Tax Assessor’s Office for a copy of
your Property Record Card and spend half a day in downtown Atlanta to attend the Board of Equalization
hearing when the Taxpayers Foundation could represent you for a nominal fee?
Cost-Effectiveness:We are a non-profit and our fees reflect
that. In addition, our fees are tax-deductible.
If you have any questions, please send an email to
propappeal@yahoo.com or call our Appeal Hotline at 404-923-9995.
We look forward to helping you get the reduction you deserve!
The fees for a residential appeal are as follows:
Market Value
Fee
$0-499,999
$300
$500,000-999,999
$400
$1,000,000 and above
$500
The fees for a commercial property appeal are as follows:
