Maybe you have a few questions. Here is a quick collection of some of the questions people ask us… along with our answers. If you still have a question, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to answer it for you.
A: The tax appeal process typically takes between 1 and 4 months, depending on the complexity of the case and the county’s workload. However, if an appeal must proceed to a formal hearing before the Assessment Appeals Board, the process can take several additional months. Timing also depends on when the appeal is filed during the filing period. In general, the earlier an appeal is submitted, the sooner it can be reviewed and resolved, often resulting in faster tax savings and refunds.
A: It depends on the type of reduction received. Most Decline-in-Value (Prop 8) reductions are temporary and must be reviewed each year. If market conditions continue to support a lower value, a new appeal may be necessary to maintain the reduction. Other types of assessment reductions, such as certain Base Year Value Appeals, may result in a permanent adjustment to your assessed value. We will be happy to review your property annually and advise you whether a new appeal is warranted.
A: Our fee is completely contingency-based, which means you pay nothing unless we successfully reduce your property taxes. There are no upfront costs, retainers, or hidden fees. We handle all of the research, analysis, filing, and representation at our own expense. If your appeal does not result in a tax reduction, you owe us nothing. Simply put, if we don’t save you money, it doesn’t cost you a penny.
A: We identify potential tax appeal opportunities by analyzing publicly available property records and market data. When our research indicates that a property may qualify for a reduction in assessed value, we contact the owner by mail, telephone, and/or email to offer a complimentary review and explain how we may be able to help reduce their property taxes.
A: For a Prop 8 Decline-in-Value Appeal, the application must be filed within the statutory filing period for the tax year being appealed. Once the filing deadline has passed, it is generally no longer possible to obtain a Prop 8 reduction for that tax year. Therefore, it is important to act promptly and submit an appeal before the applicable deadline expires.
A: While property owners have the right to file their own tax appeals, many discover that successfully challenging the County Assessor is more complex than expected. The burden of proof rests with the property owner, which means you must present credible evidence demonstrating that your property’s assessed value exceeds its current market value.
The success of an appeal often depends on the quality of the data, the valuation analysis performed, and how effectively the case is presented. We invest heavily in professional databases, market research tools, and valuation resources that are typically unavailable to most property owners.
In addition, most property owners have never prepared a formal valuation analysis or presented a case before an Assessment Appeals Board. Facing experienced county appraisers and navigating the appeal process can be overwhelming. With years of experience and thousands of successful appeals, we know how to develop compelling evidence, challenge the assessor’s conclusions, and present a persuasive case on your behalf.
In fact, we have met property owners at Appeals Board hearings who chose to retain us on the day of their hearing after realizing the complexity of the process. Our goal is to maximize your tax savings while eliminating the stress, time commitment, and uncertainty that often accompany a self-filed appeal.
A: In most cases, no. Under California’s Proposition 13, the County Assessor generally cannot increase your assessed value above your property’s Proposition 13 base year value. This value is typically established when you purchase the property and may only increase by a maximum of 2% per year, unless a change in ownership or new construction occurs.
A Prop 8 appeal simply requests a temporary reduction in assessed value to reflect a decline in market value. If the appeal is unsuccessful, your assessment generally remains unchanged. Our team carefully reviews each case before filing to help ensure that pursuing an appeal is in your best interest.
A: Getting started is easy. Simply contact Property Tax Associates by phone or email, and one of our representatives will discuss your property, answer any questions you may have, and determine whether an appeal is likely to be beneficial. If your property appears to qualify, we will send you the necessary paperwork for electronic signature.
Once the signed documents are returned, our team will begin gathering data, preparing the valuation analysis, and filing the appeal on your behalf. We handle the entire process from start to finish and will keep you informed every step of the way until your appeal is resolved and any tax reduction and/or refund is received.
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