4 Reasons To Use A Property Tax Consultant
Whether you own residential real estate, a vacation home, or commercial real estate, one expense that you'll need to address is your property taxes. To better monitor and pay your taxes, consider using the services of a property tax consultant. Here are a few reasons you might use property tax services.
1. You Want to Ensure Your Property Taxes Are Paid On Time
One service offered by property tax consultants is managing the payment of your property taxes. While it's cumbersome enough budgeting for and paying property taxes for one or two homes, if you have multiple properties, the task becomes much more time-consuming.
Your property tax service keeps track of all the deadlines for paying or responding to property tax assessments. They can also confirm that the information used to calculate your property taxes is correct.
2. You Disagree With Your Property Tax Assessment
If your county reassesses property values, it's common for real estate property taxes to increase. Depending on the assessed value of your property and the change in your property taxes, you may choose to appeal the assessment. This appeal must be completed within a certain time frame and should include information that supports the appeal.
Your property tax consultant can determine if an appeal is the right move and handle the appeal itself. Some counties require a hearing for property tax appeals; your property tax consultant can provide representation if an appearance is necessary.
3. You Qualify (or Want to Qualify for) a Property Tax Exemption
Some counties have exemptions for certain individuals or organizations. If you or your business qualifies for an exemption, your property tax consultant will help you complete the necessary paperwork to prove you're eligible for the exemption.
Or, if you have a property that you want to exempt from property taxes, property tax services will tell you what changes you have to make for your property to fall into an appropriate exemption category.
4. You Want to Take Steps to Lower Your Taxes
Aside from appealing an assessment, there are a few things you can to lower your property taxes. If you have an assessment in the future, there are moves you can make to lower the assessor's perceived value for your property.
If you have an outbuilding on your property that you no longer use, get rid of it. Assessors will include additional structures when calculating your tax bill. Reschedule planned improvements to the property's exterior until after the assessment. Your property tax consultant can offer more suggestions that are applicable to your specific property.