| The Tax Collector Owes You Money- Follow These | | | | hiring appraisal experts. But the No. 1 reason why |
| Simple Steps to Cash in Your Property Taxes and | | | | applications are denied by the Assessment Appeals |
| Start Saving Now Mireya Rendon was disappointed | | | | Board is because homeowners make mistakes, |
| when she received her tax bill this year. Despite | | | | provide inaccurate market information and offer |
| recent decline in real estate value, Rendon's property | | | | incomparable home sales as evidence to reduce their |
| was assessed at $418,000 with tugging taxes | | | | taxes. |
| pegged at more than $4,500 per year. After reading | | | | Caveat-- once your application has been denied, the |
| a letter from a local company offering to help | | | | decision is final! You will have to wait an entire year |
| Rendon reduce her property taxes, she knew it was | | | | to file another appeal or take it up with the Supreme |
| time to appeal. | | | | Court to get a tax reduction. Don't make this |
| Rendon is one of dozens of Californian homeowners | | | | mistake. Save yourself the headache and hire market |
| who are fighting their tax burden with the help of an | | | | experts and appraisers to complete your application |
| affordable assessment appeal agency. Here's what | | | | for you. |
| you can do to start saving up to thousands of dollars | | | | It's also good to shop around to see what company |
| this year. | | | | offers to complete your application for the most |
| 1. Don't Let the County Assessor Nickle and Dime | | | | affordable price. Some companies charge as little as |
| You | | | | $300 to do this and don't offer a money back |
| Despite that some County Assessors have sent | | | | guarantee. |
| thousands of homeowners tax reduction notices this | | | | 4. Put Up a Good Fight |
| month, homeowners are actually eligible for higher | | | | When filing an appeal, the homeowner needs to |
| savings than what has been granted. A typical | | | | know a great deal about the current market |
| automatic reduction granted by the Assessor is | | | | conditions, the value of his or her property and |
| roughly $700, whereas property owners can save up | | | | extensive knowledge of comparable properties. This |
| to thousands of dollars more if they choose to file an | | | | information serves as evidence that you are being |
| appeal. Don't settle for minimal tax reductions when | | | | over-taxed. This process can be nerve-wrenching for |
| you can save more. Remember, as much as 60% of | | | | homeownersbecause the information is not easily |
| homeowners are over-assessed and eligible for tax | | | | accessible. Consider hiring an appeal agency to file |
| cuts, according to the National Taxpayers Union. This | | | | your application, which will provide the Assessment |
| means that you can maximize your tax reduction by | | | | Appeal Board with a detailed comparable analysis |
| challenging your tax bill. | | | | worksheet with the most accurate market |
| 2. Find Out How Much You Can Save | | | | information for your home. |
| Typical tax savings by way of appeals range from | | | | 5. Don't Wait Until the Last Minute! |
| $200-$5,000. Depending on how much your property | | | | Depending on the county in which your property is |
| is assessed for, you can be in for pretty hefty tax | | | | located, you won't have much time to file an appeal. |
| cut. For example, if you purchased your home for | | | | For example, the deadline to file appeals in Orange |
| $600,000 but it is now worth only $400,000 (it's | | | | County, CA is Sept. 15. But generally you have 60 |
| Prop.8 value), then you can save as much as $2,000 | | | | days or less from the time your annual tax |
| if you can prove that your property experienced a | | | | assessment was mailed to file an appeal and start |
| decline in value. | | | | saving money. Even if you decide to hire someone |
| Some appeal agencies can conduct a FREE market | | | | else to do this for you, the application process still |
| analysis of your property and notify you of your | | | | takes time. |
| estimated tax savings before you file the appeal or | | | | Don't wait to start saving money-- file an appeal |
| pay them to do it for you. Do not pay for a | | | | today. |
| company to reduce your taxes without finding out | | | | I recommend [ which charges a low one time fee |
| much you can save first. | | | | starting at $99 for tax reductions. They also provide |
| 3. Do It Yourself or Pay Someone Else? | | | | a FREE market analysis to determine if you qualify |
| Because the Assessment Appeals Board does not | | | | for a tax reduction. |
| charge a fee for filing appeal applications, | | | | Happy savings! |
| homeowners can file their appeal applications without | | | | |