I finally decided to practice what I preach and appeal the proposed property tax value placed on my home for the coming year. Frankly, I have been surprised at the number of people I have spoken with who have no idea that you can even do this!
Each January every property owner receives a Notice of Assessment, Taxable Valuation and Property Classification from the local authority. It has a big notice on it that says This Is Not A Tax Bill. What it is, however, is a notice of what your assessed value will be for the coming year; which, in this current market, usually means it is increasing and you will be paying higher property taxes. When you receive this notice and read it carefully, there are instructions for making an appointment to appeal your taxes and the days that the taxing authority will be holding Board of Review sessions. While few people have overwhelming success appealing at this level, it is a must-do step before appealing to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, where substantially larger reassessments could be given. The Tax Tribunal decisions can even be retroactive, possible affording the homeowner a substantial amount of relief.
I spent some time today putting together important information specific to presenting an appeal. Please feel free to contact me if you would like this additional information or if I can provide you with the necessary comparable sales for your appeal.
