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Monday, February 9, 2009
Plan to dispute your property taxes?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Although some Clayton residents believe their property is not worth what the tax assessor’s office claims, three zip codes in particular have overpaid property taxes in excess of $13 million dollars.
According to an Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership report, residents located in zip code 30238 have=2 0overpaid an average of $513.00 per household; 30274 overpaid $696.00; and 30296 overpaid $479.00. These estimates are based on sales via Realtors, banks and/or servicers who legally filed foreclosure proceedings during the first six months of 2008.
Given the current real estate market, even if you appealed and won in the past, the ANDP suggests giving your property a self assessment using a Residential Property Tax Return, and undergo the appeals process. This form must be filed between January 1 and April 1.
While most agree Clayton needs more police on the streets, costs for government services are not valid reasons to raise property taxes. “[The Tax Assessor’s] job is to assess the fair market value of the home, not determine the tax impact,” says John O’Callaghan, CEO of the ANDP, a nonprofit affordable-housing group. However, they can look at societal factors such as fundin g CCPS, so accreditation can impact assessments.
The good news is our tax assessor’s office is working with the ANDP to get properties assessed correctly, so perhaps we’ll see fewer foreclosures here and homeowners will pay taxes based on what properties are actually worth.
“I am very impressed by Chief Appraiser Rodney McDaniel, he has been responsive, understands the problem and has agreed to meet with us individually to go over our data for Clayton,” adds O’Callaghan. “I know that Clayton and all counties are facing intense change to get tax valuations right this year. Dealing with declining values requires new ways of doing business.”
Have you received your tax bill yet? Will you dispute it?
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