About Me

Don't Be In The Dark About Our Legal System

Hello, I'm Karla Mitchell. Going through a legal case can be very expensive and challenging. I won't go into details, but I recently underwent my own legal battle that lasted several years. It is finally over and I successfully received a settlement, but I had to spend so much time studying law in order to play my role in my own court case. While I found a great attorney at one point, I felt completely lost initially and I don't want anyone else to experience the same thing. So I decided to create this blog for those who would like to know more about law.

Search

Latest Posts

Don't Be In The Dark About Our Legal System

3 Ways A Real Estate Tax Attorney Safeguards Your Portfolio

by Andrew Martin

Have you been slapped with a tax bill that you believe is unfair? You can appeal an overvaluation with proper legal help. Making a property tax appeal is complicated for ordinary citizens without legal and tax training. But failure to lodge a successful appeal can see your real estate portfolio diluted by over taxation. A real estate tax attorney can help you when you need to appeal on your annual tax or when you are conducting a real estate transaction. How does a property tax attorney safeguard your interests?

Get Accurate Tax Appraisals 

A real estate appraiser determines the value of your property, which, in turn, determines your taxes on that property. An appraisal considers age, size, land acreage, and the surrounding property to arrive at an estimate for your property. Sometimes the appraiser makes inaccurate estimates when these factors vary. The appraiser sometimes does not visit the property, which leads to missing changes on the property or neighborhood.

Your real estate tax attorney starts by appealing to the appraiser. In many cases, the appraiser will make a revaluation after a physical visit. Experienced property tax lawyers develop a rapport with appraisers over time, which makes things easier. 

Lodge a Tax Appeal With the Board of Assessors 

If a real estate tax attorney cannot get a fair appraisal, they move to the Board of Assessors, also called the Board of Review, in some states. The attorney will seek to show an appraisal is unfair by showing that the property was classified incorrectly, or the appraiser got the wrong basic facts like age and size. An attorney might also attempt to show that the appraisal method was inaccurate or inappropriate for your type of property or that you are entitled to tax breaks.

Your real estate tax attorney researches this evidence and files the proper paperwork to increase the chances of your appeal's success.

Legal Representation in a Hearing 

Your property tax attorney will be very helpful if the Board of Assessors gives you a hearing to clarify your evidence. The attorney can make a more forceful case based on your evidence to convince the Board to lower your tax bill.

Sometimes, the Board refuses your appeal. Your real estate tax attorney can appeal to the designated court of law for tax matters. The attorney will make a legal case based on your prior evidence and the applicable tax code to show you have been wronged. 

Do you feel your property taxes are unfair? Book an appointment with a real estate tax attorney to discuss your grievances today. 

Share