Real Estate
How to Appeal your Property Tax Assessment
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How To Appeal Your Tax Assessment

According to the International Association of Assessing Officers, a nonprofit educational association, you can successfully appeal your
Home’s property tax assessment in many if not most cases.

If you suspect that your real estate tax assessment is too high, you can appeal it. To make a successful case for getting your assessment lowered, start by asking yourself these questions:
• If you purchased your home in the last year, is the assessment value now greater than what you paid for it?
• Is the assessor using the correct information when evaluating your home?

Using your property identification number on your assessment notice, obtain a copy of your property record from the assessor’s office. Review the facts recorded by the assessor and match them with your house. If you disagree or find obvious errors you may be a good candidate to appeal your assessment!

You can improve your chances of a successful appeal of your property tax assessment by following these steps:

1. Understand deadlines and instructions. Instructions about deadlines and filing procedures will be sent with your assessment notice. Be sure you understand these instructions. A missed deadline or incorrect filing can lead to an appeal dismissal.
2. Prepare for an appeal. An appeal can’t be won simply because you feel your taxes are too high. However, you may appeal if you can prove that your property record is inaccurate, the estimated market value is too high or the estimated market value is accurate but inequitable because it is higher than the estimated value of other similar properties. Use the addresses gathered from the assessor’s office to review property record forms of similar houses and their appraised values. Compare the features of your home to that of the similar properties.
3. Follow the appeals procedure. Now that you have grounds for an appeal, you will need to do some research to back your claim, the first step is an informal meeting with someone at the assessor’s office. This meeting will verify the information on your property-record form, explain how your value was estimated, discover if the value is fair, determine if you qualify for any exemptions, and explain how to file a formal appeal. Resolution may be reached at this step. If you’re not satisfied at the informal meeting, the next step is a formal appeal. This usually takes place at the local level before a board. Here you will present you case and supporting evidence, so be prepared. Remember that the assessor’s office can be your ally. If you are calm and reasonable they’ll assist you with your appeal. For more informational brochures, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to International Association of Assessing Officers, 130 E. Randolph St., Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60601.


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