Property taxes are something many homeowners dread, especially when the bills seem to keep rising every year.
That was my experience too, living in Pennsylvania. But one year, I decided to fight back by appealing my property tax assessment. And guess what? I managed to get $4,500 knocked off my bill.
Like many people, I assumed property taxes were fixed and untouchable. But after hearing about others appealing successfully, I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be much easier than I thought.
The first step was to review the property tax notice I received. This notice showed the assessed value of my home, which the tax is based on.
If the assessed value is too high, the tax bill will also be higher. So, I looked at the numbers carefully to see if my home was overvalued.
Next, I gathered evidence. This included recent sales prices of similar homes in my neighborhood and photos of my house.
I also checked if there were any errors in the property description that could affect the value, like the size of the house or the number of rooms.
After collecting this information, I filed a formal appeal with my county’s assessment office. This process usually requires filling out a form and submitting your evidence. Some counties allow you to do this online, while others might need a visit to the office.
Soon after, I received an appointment to present my case to the local property tax board. During this hearing, I explained why I believed the assessed value was too high. I showed them the comparable home sales and pointed out the errors in my property description.
The board listened carefully and asked a few questions. In the end, they agreed with my points and lowered the assessed value of my home.
This change cut $4,500 from the total property tax I owed for that year. It was a huge relief and saved me a good amount of money.
If you feel your property taxes are too high, you might want to consider appealing too. It can take some time and effort, but the savings could be worth it. Just make sure to collect strong evidence and be prepared to explain your case clearly.
Each county in Pennsylvania has its own appeal process and deadlines, so check with your local assessor’s office to get the right information. Don’t miss the appeal window because late appeals usually aren’t accepted.
Also, keep in mind that not every appeal will result in a lower bill. Some assessments might be accurate, and the board could reject your appeal. But if you don’t try, you definitely won’t save anything.
In the end, appealing my property taxes taught me that homeowners have more power than they realize. It’s not just about paying what’s asked but making sure the bill is fair.
So, if you’re feeling the pinch from high property taxes, it might be time to take a closer look and speak up.