If you are a property owner, you should have recently received your Property Tax Bill, so now its time to think about your assessment. Check out the assessed value of your property on the Assessor’s website under “Parcel Viewer.” Does it look reasonable? If you’re not sure, consult a realtor or an internet service to get a feel for the current value. You can do a web search by entering, “What is the value of my home?” in your search engine; it will return several sites that offer a simple property valuation for free. You can also visit the Assessor’s office to get information about sales of homes in your area.
If you determine that the assessed value is too high, visit the Assessor’s website and download an “Application for the Residential/Agricultural Request for Assessor Review (Prop 8)” form. Complete the form and send or fax it to the Assessor’s Office. An appraiser will review the value of your home and make a reduction, if warranted. The process is easy and there is no fee for this part of the service.
If you disagree with the value proposed by the appraiser following a review, or have not heard back from the Assessor’s Office, you will need to file an assessment appeal by the November 30, 2011 deadline if you think your assessment is too high. There is a $30.00 non-refundable processing fee that is required at the time of filing.
The appeal is before the Assessment Appeals Board (AAB), which is independent of the Assessor. You will be given the opportunity to present information at a hearing regarding the value of your property. The appeals process is outlined in detail on the AAB website.