Thinking of filing a tax appeal? Now is the time! It’s simple, inexpensive, and can save you money on your property tax bill! How, though, do you go about filing for one? Let us help you. Property owners in our area have a very short window of time each year to challenge the county’s assessed property value. That window begins this month with the mailing of the TRIM, or Truth in Millage, notices.

Here is a “how-to” on contesting the value of your property…

1)      Figure out if you have good cause. Look at the market value on your TRIM notice. The value represents how much the property was worth as of Jan. 1, 2010. Here’s a rule of thumb – if the market value on the TRIM notice is higher than what you would sell for, it’s worth looking into!  When looking in to this, be sure to check that your lot size and other characteristics is correct. These factors will affect the value.

2)      If you believe that your property value is too high, contact a property appraiser or a licensed realtor. Either can help you in obtaining a true picture of the worth of your home. .

3)      Consider hiring a tax representative to represent you if there is an appeal. Tax representatives have a higher success rate that property owners representing themselves. Just keep in mind that you may have to pay them and that cost may be up to 50% of any tax savings.

4)      The deadline is Sept. 20 in Broward County. More information can be found at www.bcpa.net.  To access the forms directly click here:  http://www.bcpa.net/forms-dl.asp#vab

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