Lower your property tax bill this 2020 with the best tricks

Are you a homeowner complaining about paying high property taxes? Don't worry, in this blog you will find some relief. This blog will help you find some tricks that will lessen your pain of paying higher property taxes.

• The first trick - Give your assessor full access

Give your assessor the full access to your property. If you deny access, then the assessor will only have to make assumptions about your interiors or the improvements you have made. This in turn might result in a higher tax bill.

• Analyse your property tax card

The next trick is to analyse your property tax card. Request the local assessor office for a copy of your property tax card else find the information in your county administrator's website. Then check if you can find errors in the information provided about your property.

• Make a comparison with the other homes in your neighbourhood

As property tax bills are public information you can easily compare the value of your house with the other houses in your neighbourhood. But make sure the property you compare with is approximately the same size and has the same features. After the comparison, if you feel that your property is valued higher then there are chances for a mistake in your home's valuation.

• Hire a tax reduction expert

If your property tax card shows a lot of difference or if the comparison made with your neighbouring properties show disparity, then it is the right time to hire a tax reduction expert. Before you select a property tax consulting firm make sure they have experience in evaluating your property, check the number of protests filed by them, how much have they saved for their clients till date and check for the fee.

• Present the case yourself

You can either hire a tax reduction expert or present the case yourself. Find out about the property tax appeals from your local tax office and complete the paperwork before the deadline. If you have a strong evidence, which can either be wrong information on the tax card or a mismatch in the valuation of similar homes in the neighbourhood then there are chances for the appeal board to take your case seriously.

What if your property is assessed fairly?

You can still lower your taxes. Many states offer programs that help in reducing the taxes you owe such as exemptions for seniors, people with disabilities, agricultural property owner, veterans, etc. Few other cities and counties provide discounts if you pay the bill early such as a four percent discount if the tax is paid in November, three percent in December, two in January and one in February. Check with your tax office for the discounts.

The bottom line

Property taxes are collected in order to benefit the entire city, county or a state but they are still a burden for homeowners. Keep the above tricks in mind and make sure you do not overpay your taxes. Either protest yourself or hire a tax consultant.

Tags: property tax reduction, protest property taxes,

Hi everybody, It’s Derick from Houston and am working as a freelance property tax consultant. I love reading and writing. Write to me @ derickjames784@gmail.com