court assessment tax appeal what to say pa lawyer advice

How do I file an appeal in PA?

You can file a petition electronically at www.boardofappeals.state.pa.us. When an online appeal is submitted, the petitioner will be provided with a confirmation number that the appeal has been received.

How do I contest a PA state tax assessment?

How do I contest my tax assessment? If you wish to request a refund or appeal an assessment or determination, a petition must be filed with the Board of Appeals. You can file a petition electronically at www.boardofappeals.state.pa.us. Petitions may also be mailed to the Board of Appeals at the following addresses. PA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

How do I request a refund or appeal an assessment or determination?

If you wish to request a refund or appeal an assessment or determination, a petition must be filed with the Board of Appeals. You can file a petition electronically at www.boardofappeals.state.pa.us. When an online appeal is submitted, the petitioner will be provided with a confirmation number that the appeal has been received.

Can I appeal my property tax assessment late?

However, you might be allowed to file a late appeal if you have a good excuse—for example, you were ill or away from home when the assessment notice was mailed. You’ll need to file a written application for your appeal.

Why did Philadelphia reassess commercial properties?

What is the uniformity clause in PA?

Does Pennsylvania have a reassessment?

Does Pennsylvania have a state agency for property valuation?

See more

About this website

Act of Dec. 31, 1965,P.L. 1257, No. 511 Cl. 53 - LOCAL TAX ENABLING ACT ...

Compiler's Note: Section 2 of Act 42 of 2014, which amended section 301.1, provided that Act 42 shall apply to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2014. Compiler's Note: Section 4 of Act 130 of 2008, which amended section 301.1, provided that the amendment of section 301.1(f)(1) shall not apply to municipalities imposing a tax on leases or lease transactions prior to July 1, 2008.

Act of May. 22, 1933,P.L. 853, No. 155 Cl. 53 - THE GENERAL COUNTY ...

AN ACT . Relating to taxation; designating the subjects, property and persons subject to and exempt from taxation for all local purposes; providing for and regulating the assessment and valuation of persons, property and subjects of taxation for county purposes, and for the use of those municipal and quasi-municipal corporations which levy their taxes on county assessments and valuations ...

Frequently Asked Questions for Taxpayers

Every municipal election (held in odd-numbered years) – Every school district except Philadelphia will have the option of asking voters to approve an additional income tax increase in order to fund greater local property tax relief. Choosing whether to receive state-funded property tax relief – If a school board rejects state funding for property tax relief through gaming, then the final ...

Pennsylvania Statutes Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs

This is FindLaw's hosted version of Pennsylvania Statutes Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs. Use this page to navigate to all sections within the Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs.

Property Tax Relief Through Homestead Exclusion - PA DCED

The Taxpayer Relief Act provides for property tax reduction allocations to be distributed to school districts through a “homestead or farmstead exclusion."

Why did Philadelphia reassess commercial properties?

In 2017, the city of Philadelphia reassessed commercial and industrial properties for the 2018 tax year due to pressure from Philadelphia City Council. The city proclaimed that it had better information to assess the value of such commercial and industrial properties, and for that reason, the city’s reassessing only those specific classes ...

What is the uniformity clause in PA?

The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that, "All taxes shall be uniform, upon the same class of subjects, within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected under general laws," which is known as the uniformity clause.

Does Pennsylvania have a reassessment?

Additionally, Pennsylvania is one of only six states that does not have statutorily mandated reassessments on a fixed cycle.

Does Pennsylvania have a state agency for property valuation?

The Pennsylvania tax assessment process is unlike any other in the United States. Penn sylvania does not have a state agency to oversee the property valuation and assessment process, or to supervise and ensure uniformity in the assessment process from county to county. Instead, each county in Pennsylvania has a designated chief assessor responsible ...

How to contact Harrisburg PA Board of Appeals?

HARRISBURG PA 17120. The Board of Appeals can be reached by calling 717-783-3664. Forms can be downloaded from the Board’s Online Petition Center at www.boardofappeals.state.pa.us, or obtained by calling 1-888-PATAXES (728-2937).

What is the Board of Appeals?

The Board of Appeals was established as a unit within the Department of Revenue responsible for the review of appeals filed by taxpayers contesting tax assessments issued by the department. The board has original jurisdiction over all petitions for refunds, except for refunds of liquid fuels taxes paid by political subdivisions, farmers, nonpublic schools not operated for profit, volunteer fire companies, volunteer rescue squads and volunteer ambulance services; users of liquid fuel in propeller driven aircraft or engines; agencies of the federal government; agencies of the commonwealth; and the Boat Fund of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Where to file an appeal for inheritance tax?

If you disagree with the board’s order regarding an assessment of inheritance tax that does not involve a refund of tax, an appeal may be filed with the Court of Common Pleas, Orphans’ Court Division.

Who is in attendance at a corporation tax hearing?

In corporation tax and cigarette tax hearings, a representative of the Department of the Auditor General may be in attendance. Hearings are informal, and it is not necessary to have professional representation. However, witnesses will give testimony under oath, and the proceedings may be recorded as part of the record.

We Represent Your Best Interests in Tax Assessment Appeals

By reducing your tax obligation, we help you save money for what matters most—ensuring your business’s success. We have worked with Fortune 500 companies, land developers, entrepreneurs, and others looking to decrease their taxes.

Providing You With an Accurate Property Evaluation

We take into account all of the factors when it comes to determining a proper property evaluation. These factors include the construction costs, income approach, and the sales price of similar commercial properties. By doing this, we can determine if the county has overvalued your property, resulting in a higher tax liability for you.

Property Tax Assessments in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania property tax assessments are handled by local county tax assessors. These individuals oversee the tax assessment process for all properties in their respective counties. The local office assess newly built properties, new additions to properties, and reassess existing taxable properties.

Reasons to Appeal a Property Tax Assessment

There are two factors in determining your property tax bill: the value of your home and your county tax rate. The actual value of your home is intended to be what it would sell for if put on the market.

How to Lower Property Taxes in PA

There are limited ways to lower your property taxes. You cannot necessarily intentionally lower the value of your home, but you can keep a close eye on signs that property values in your area are decreasing.

Pennsylvania Property Tax Exemptions

We are here to help if you believe your property should be exempt from property taxes. Pennsylvania law allows for certain types of properties to avoid taxes, including:

Contact Our Property Tax Appeal Lawyer for Help

Finding yourself in the midst of a property tax dispute is frustrating. Your situation may be controlled or influenced by a Pennsylvania law or a local ordinance you are unfamiliar with. You may not be sure of the best way to go about arguing your position. This is why we recommend contacting a local attorney right away.

How long do you have to appeal a property assessment?

Make sure to do so within the appeal period. How long you have to appeal varies. In most counties and cities, you must file an appeal within 30 to 90 days after you receive your annual property assessment notice or letter.

What happens if the value of your property decreases after the assessment?

If the value of your property decreases after the assessment, you may end up paying taxes on a sales price that you can no longer receive on the open market. There are several ways you can show that your property’s assessed value is too high:

What happens if the square footage on a property record card is incorrect?

For example, if the square footage on the property record card is incorrect, it is possible that the tax assessor has overvalued your property. If any of the information on the record card is incorrect, contact your assessor’s office to get it corrected.

What is property tax bill?

The property tax bill is tied to a report prepared by the local tax assessor, based on the assessor's estimation of the market value of your property. Property assessing is an inexact science, so you may have grounds to challenge your bill ...

How often do localities reassess property?

Some localities reassess property values every year, others do so every four or five years. Some assessors value each property individually. Many others value your property based on area surveys. Your locality also sets its own appeal process for property owners to dispute tax assessments.

How to check your property record card?

Check Your Property Record Card. The first thing to do is check the record card for your property (these records are almost all online, so they are no longer on “cards," but this terminology is still used). You can usually check your record card online at your tax assessor’s website. You can find a link to your assessor’s website ...

What to do if your record card is incorrect?

If any of the information on the record card is incorrect, contact your assessor’s office to get it corrected. You should be able to do so without having to go through a formal appeal process. A phone call or visit to your assessor’s office may do the trick.

Is it legal to appeal property tax?

In reality, doing this is a completely common and 100% legal thing to do. Therefore, you are simply upholding your rights as an American citizen and protecting yourself from potentially paying more than your fair share of property taxes.

Do assessors have your best interest at heart?

The assessor that works for the municipality does not have your best interest at heart when they are assessing the total value of your home. In all reality, they are only motivated by getting their job done as quickly as possible. Even if this means that they cut some corners and miss out on some important details in the assessment process. Of course, this can be very problematic for you as the property owner seeking the lowest property taxes possible.

Is government paperwork a hassle?

As you probably know, handling government paperwork can be a bit of a hassle. There can be lots of picky information that you need to include, details that you need to look up, and so on. However, it is important that you give this process the respect it deserves. Make sure you input all the correct information that you gathered during your research stage in order to

Informal Reviews

Prior to initiating the formal appeal process, Allegheny County is allowing property owners to file an informal appeal first. This is an expedited challenge consisting of a brief administrative hearing before a county real estate professional.

Formal Appeals

Property Tax Appeals in Allegheny County are a two-tiered process. First, assessment appeals go to the BPAAR (Board of Property Assessment Appeal & Review). Second, appeals from that proceeding go to the BOV (Board of Viewers). The Process through both hearings can take between 1 to 3 years and is retroactive to the original filing date.

Why did Philadelphia reassess commercial properties?

In 2017, the city of Philadelphia reassessed commercial and industrial properties for the 2018 tax year due to pressure from Philadelphia City Council. The city proclaimed that it had better information to assess the value of such commercial and industrial properties, and for that reason, the city’s reassessing only those specific classes ...

What is the uniformity clause in PA?

The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that, "All taxes shall be uniform, upon the same class of subjects, within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected under general laws," which is known as the uniformity clause.

Does Pennsylvania have a reassessment?

Additionally, Pennsylvania is one of only six states that does not have statutorily mandated reassessments on a fixed cycle.

Does Pennsylvania have a state agency for property valuation?

The Pennsylvania tax assessment process is unlike any other in the United States. Penn sylvania does not have a state agency to oversee the property valuation and assessment process, or to supervise and ensure uniformity in the assessment process from county to county. Instead, each county in Pennsylvania has a designated chief assessor responsible ...