How to Appeal Tax Assessment in Maryland
Maryland is one of the most beautiful states in the US and is home to well over five million people. It is a part of the MD-DC-VA tri-state area and it has some of the richest areas in the country.
If you are a resident and a homeowner and have received a tax assessment for your property that you do not agree with, you have the right to appeal this assessment. All you need to do is to follow some simple methods and you should be comfortably be able to win the appeal.
Instructions
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1
Eligibility
Make sure that you are eligible for an appeal. These are three occasions when you can file an appeal. The first one is to file it when you receive the notice. The second one is in case you purchase the property between January 1st and June 30th or by filing a petition review. -
2
Supporting Documents
You will need to have supporting documents in order to substantiate your appeal. The best way to go about it is to engage a professional in the real estate business. Have the selling price for houses that are similar in nature that have been sold recently in the area. Also, visit property assessment websites to see if they offer you a lower rate than one in the assessment. -
3
Present Your Case
You will have to present your case in front of the tax assessor who is appointed by the supervisor of assessments. The meeting is a short one and this is critical as you will be giving documentary evidence as well as your argument on the assessment. Make sure that you have all the documents available at the meeting. -
4
Property Tax Assessment Board
If the appeal has not been successful, you will need to move to the property tax assessment board. This is to be done within the 30 days of the final notice by the supervisor of assessments. -
5
Maryland Tax Court
If your appeal in the first two stages has not bore fruit and you are certain that the assessment is incorrect, you can move to the Maryland Tax Court as the last resort for your case. You will be required to file the appeal within the 30 days of receiving the notice of final decision from the Property Tax Assessment Board. The tax court is appointed by the governor of Maryland and is an independent body.
