Mischer News

Did you know that your new 2010 property tax bill is not set in stone...at least not yet? Before you issue a check, consider this useful advice.

• Make sure all of the deductions you're entitled to were, in fact, included.
• If something just doesn’t add up, check the tax assessor's math as well as the description of your property. Sometimes the problem is simple human error, like miscalculated square footage or an incorrect number of rooms.
• Visit your counties web site and check the assessments of at least five of your neighbors. Your neighbors may have already disputed their taxes and done half the work for you!
• Remember, no tow houses are exactly the same, so make adjustments for the differences between your property and those you are using for comparison purposes.
• If your assessment is incorrect or unfairly assessed, contact your appraisal district and make an informal appeal to their assessor first. If you are unsuccessful in coming to an agreement on the value, then file a formal appeal.

If you have to file a formal appeal, "the first thing you need to do is call and ask about the review process" of your local assessor's office, says Geoffrey White, a tax attorney in Cincinnati. "Find out what the important timing points are. Since you might only have 60 days (from the time you receive the assessment in the mail) to do this, you don't want to sit on it."

With many Americans taking more time to budget their spending and review their major expenses, the tax assessor’s office is quickly becoming a busy place. Start early; know your neighbor’s values and you might just find your pockets feeling a little bit heavier this year!

Visit the National Taxpayers Unions website for additional useful tips and information at Ntu.org