Taxes
{ Thursday, May 17th, 2012 }
Appeal Your Property Taxes
- It is not physically possible to have more fun with the words “clip art” and “property tax appeal”.
I just received my 2012 Annual Notice Of Assessment from Fulton County. Somewhere in between yet another Crate & Barrel catalog (please, for the love of G-d, stop sending me catalogs!) and my over bloated water bill was the thin, seemingly insignificant envelope. It almost got tossed with the daily direct mailer pimping out the Chase Sapphire card. Almost.
I liken this annual mailing to the check-up reminder postcard that my dentist sends me. They’re both easily overlooked, yet essential annual milestones. They both have the potential to be expensive… especially if they’re ignored. While the dental visit comes with possible upside (Free Toothbrush! Highlights Magazine! Nitrous Oxide!), there is no such upside with the tax assessment notice. Where there is upside- if you’re paying attention- is in the appeal of the tax assessment.
Many home owners don’t realize that they have the right to appeal their tax assessment. What this means is that you can actually file a formal appeal with the County, and present your case as to why your property taxes are disproportionately high. The process can take some time- the County is still hearing appeals from the 2011 cycle- but for many who have gone through the process, the end result can mean shaving a significant sum off of the annual bill.
Should you appeal your taxes? If you respond affirmatively to any of the points below, you might want to consider:
1. The assessment has valued your home higher this year than it did last year, despite your understanding that home values have gone down in your area over the last twelve months.
2. The assessed value of your home is signficantly higher than you believe your home would sell for in the open market.
3. You’re philisophicaly aligned with any opportunity to reduce the amount of your money that you’re required to share with the government.
What’s most important is that you make your decision asap. You have only 45 days to appeal your 2012 assessment. That’s it. There are no do-overs, nor are there are any extensions.
If you’d like to discuss the appeal process, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email. I can give you my professional advice from a real estate perspective, as well as share my personal experiences as someone who has gone through the appeal process in the past. While I can promise you that the appeal process is nothing like visiting the dentist (no nitrous oxide, free toothbrush or Highlights Magazine), there is the possibility of saving significant money in future property tax owed.
{ Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 }
Atlanta Transportation Town Hall Meeting
Transportation Town Hall Meetings: 2011's Version of Health Care Town Hall Meetings
I’m not sure what a town hall meeting looks like when ten counties are involved, but perhaps this is just a starting metaphor for Atlanta’s looming regional transportation tax showdown. From The Civic League For Regional Atlanta:
Get a Move On! – a 10-County Town Hall
WHAT: A facilitated town hall meeting to kick off a yearlong grassroots conversation on transportation, growth and the future of the Atlanta region
WHEN: Saturday, July 23, from 8:30 AM to noon
WHERE: The Loudermilk Center for the Regional Community, Downtown Atlanta
WHY: Because a year from now, metro Atlanta voters will head to the polls to decide on a penny sales tax to fund regional transportation improvements. Not only is transportation one of the most critical issues facing our region today, but this is the first time voters have had the opportunity to vote regionally. This calls for a higher level of grassroots engagement.
WHAT NEXT: The 10-County Town Hall is free and open to all residents of the Atlanta region, but spaces are limited.
{ Friday, April 1st, 2011 }
Homestead Tax Exemption: Due Today
Homestead Tax Exemption filing is due today. If you purchased a home in 2010, you need to do this now. If you purchased a home prior to 2010 but have never filed for this exemption, you need to do this now. This is not an April Fools Day joke, it’s an opportunity to save some serious cheddar on your property tax bill.
How do you file for the exemption? Find out, by County:
{ Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 }
Why Do Property Taxes Go Up Or Down?
Many homeowners and potential home buyers wonder why their property taxes might go up or down in a given year. This question is asked pretty frequently these days, especially as homeowners see the value of their home drop and the size of their property tax bill increase. Just read an interesting email from Atlanta-based real estate attorneys Neel and Robinson that addresses the issue. If you’d like a quick succinct answer, give it a read.
