Op/Ed Avoid overpaying property taxes

By Viola Davis

Suspect you’re overpaying property taxes? Avoid overpaying property taxes by appealing your property tax assessment before the deadline on July 16.

To avoid overpaying your property taxes, you need to first make sure you do not miss the deadline to appeal your assessment which is fast approaching.  Homeowners and Property Owners recently received assessment noticesfrom the County tax assessors.

With today’s rapidly changing market, you are likely overpaying on property taxes.  This can be corrected by appealing the property tax assessment.  The process is free (Board of Equalization) and can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year with almost no drawbacks.  If you think your property is being over assessed, you need to take the following actions:  

Step 1:  “Appeal your property tax assessment using the DeKalb County appeal form.”

During the summer months (April-June) of each year, each property owner will receive a Notice of Assessment.  The notice will include your current year’s value; the previous year’s value as well as the 40% assessed value.  You have 45 days to contact the county of your intentions to appeal with a simple, local or state-wide appeal form.  The forms are provided below:

• Local DeKalb Appeal Assessment Form:

https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/2018AppealForm.pdf

• Statewide Appeal Assessment Form:

https://dor.georgia.gov/sites/dor.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/LGS/Form/PT-311A_Appeal_of_Assessment_Form.pdf

• Sample local and statewide Appeal Assessment Form (if you need assistance on how to fill out the form):

https://www.scribd.com/document/383609442/Appeal-of-Assessment-Property-Taxes-for-2018

Step 2:  “Will the Board of Assessors notify me?”

Yes, the Board of Assessors (BOA) will notify you a few months after you send in your local or state-wide appeal form.  They may deny your appeal (most common) or offer you a new value.  If your appeal was denied, you do nothing.  A Board of Equalization hearing date and time will be mailed to you three weeks before the actual hearing.  The entire process takes approximately 8-14 months.

For DeKalb County Appeals, you should mail or hand-deliver your appeal letter or form to the DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department, Board of Tax Assessors at Maloof Annex, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. Your DeKalb County appeal must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than July 16.  Late appeals will not be processed.  The department will not accept appeal forms that are emailed or faxed.

Remember, your annual Notice of Assessment list staff members you can contact and their phone numbers if you have questions about your assessment.  When you hand deliver your appeal, make two copies and make sure you keep a stamped copy for your records.

The DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department (Board of Tax Assessors) can be reached at (404) 371-0841 or https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/property-appraisal/welcome.

Viola Davis heads the Unhappy Taxpayers. UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.