Study Shows Most Homeowners Are Paying Too Much Property Tax

Beth • July 20, 2017

Homeowners all across Indiana and Illinois are receiving their assessment notices.  You may have heard in the local newspaper that some are going up, but some may come down.  It's not something we give much thought to, until that bill arrives. And if yours is one of those that went up? We urgently want to know why and if there was some sort of mistake.  Problem is, if we wait until the bill arrives - it may be too late. 

Oh sure, there are stories here and there in local newspapers about scandelous behavior.  Once in a while an assessor will get into hot water for not cooperating with a county contracted firm hired to ensure accuracy.  Or something bigger, like what's going on in Chicago right now. Accusations of corruption and kick-backs given to the assessor by tax attorneys who get large refunds for their billionare clients. These stories send the public into a tailspin.

But most of the time, we go on with our busy lives.  Real estate taxes just not at the forefront of our minds.  We assume we are paying the right amount but most of us never check.  A recent Chicago Tribune article cited a study by the National Taxpayers Union showing up to 60% of U.S. homes are over-assessed.  Yet fewer than 5% appeal.  Even I was surpised by that number.  I have worked my entire adult life helping folks pay accurate property taxes.  I know most assessors do their best to be accurate.  But the truth is, mass appraisal is hard.  It's expensive, it's time consuming, and it's inexact.  However we, as taxpayers, expect and deserve to pay the exact right amount.

The inconvenient truth is, verifying your property taxes is necessary.  The good news is that doing so could save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. The time to do it is now.  Once notices are sent, the clock starts ticking for the time to appeal.  In Indiana you have 45 days from the time notices are sent.  In Illnois you have 30 days.  Below is a list of nearby counties and their deadline dates.  For any county not listed here, call your local assessor.

LaPorte Co., IN - Sept. 8th

St. Joseph Co, IN- Sept. 7th

Elkhart Co., IN- August 10th

Cook County, IL - all townships are different. Deadlines run from July 20th thru August 31st.  Click the link below to check your township.

 

Beth Szweda

Co-Founder Correct Property Tax LLC

For help with your property tax appeal -  http://www.correctpropertytax.com/

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5 Things You Should Know About Appealing Your Property Taxes

By Beth • April 10, 2019
Navigating the appeal process of reducing your property taxes is difficult,; doing it without any knowledge of the process is a nightmare. It may feel like there is a secret door to unlock and no one gave you the key. Information published by the Department of Local Government Finance is quite complex. Tax bills are coming soon; make sure they are correct. Here are some important things to know before you file an appeal.

St. Joseph County Appeal Deadline is Set

By Beth • July 24, 2018
Notices have been sent to property owners for the 2019 assessment. St. Joseph County Assessor mailed assessment notices to property owners.  The mailing of these notices triggers an appeal deadline of August 31, 2018.  It's always best to file an appeal as soon as possible.  By getting your appeal in early, you will decrease the time required to process the appeal.  The assessor's office receives thousands of appeals each year with most arriving in their offices in the last days before the deadline.  You can minimize buearocracy by allowing the assessor to add your appeal to their system early. The first thing to do when you receive your notice is to check it against last years' assessment.  Prior assessments are listed on the form you receive.  Next you should get your Property Record Card online at https://www.stjosephcountyindiana.com/173/Assessor Check all the data on the PRC to make sure it is correct.  However don't assume that just because the assessment is correct that there is no chance for a reduction.  Studies have shown that as many as 60% of assessments are incorrect throughout the U.S. yet fewer than 5% appeal.  Of those who appeal more than half receive a reduction.  If a taxpayer uses a representative to appeal for them, that number goes up to 87% success rate.  Most tax reps do not charge a fee unless you win and offer a free analysis. It's a low risk, high benefit option. check out http://www.correctpropertytax.com/ and timely file your appeal by August 31st

Elkhart County Commercial and Industrial Property Assessments Are Seeing Big Increases

By Beth • June 29, 2018
Elkhart County 2019 Assessment Increase Tax assessment notices are out for 2019 and many taxpayers have seen sharp increases.  Property owners from retail shops to large manufacturing facilities have seen increases of anywhere from 60% to over 200% increases.  All owners, property managers, CFO’s, and Controllers should take a close look at their assessments and investigate reasons for increases.  Any time a taxpayer sees more than a 5% increase in assessed value it is a red flag and should be appealed.  According to Indiana Code if an assessment is increased by more than 5% and that property is appealed, the burden of proof rests with the assessor as to why that assessment has gone up. You must act quickly.  The deadline to file an appeal in Elkhart County Assessor’s Office is July 16th. Taxpayers can get their property records online at Elkhart County Assessor.  You can call your assessor for more information at (574) 535-6700.  There is also helpful information at the Department of Local Government Finance.  If a taxpayer needs more in-depth expert advice contact Correct Property Tax LLC (574) 286-0431. They will handle the appeal with no fee unless they win.  The owner of Correct Property Tax, Beth@CorrectPropertyTax.com , has 30 years experience reducing taxes for national companies and locally owned businesses.

Property Tax Proposal You Should Know About

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Homeowner's Appeal Packet

By admin • February 8, 2017
Comprehesive Residential Property Tax Appeal $210 What you get- Completed appeal Form 130 and attachments to back up our proposed assessment Complete and relevent evidence widely accepted by the assessing community Our appeals are done by the highest industry standards and practices, makes them easier for the assessor to process We're local and we're here for you!  Of course if you have a question or issue along the way, please reach out anytime   Start Your Free Analysis  

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Keep up on updates in the industry and CorrectPropertyTax.com For updates on industry news and more information about property taxes, feel free to browse through our selection of articles.

Our goal is a fair and accurate property tax for you

By admin • January 4, 2017
CPT is now offering an easy way to appeal your property taxes. We know that during these uncertain times, having a large property tax bill arrive can be overwhelming. There is something you can do. With our free analysis, you can possibly appeal the assessment and save hundreds of dollars. We have worked hard to streamline the process of access to our highly effective strategy for winning appeals. Put our experts to work today to give you the best possible chance of winning your appeal and paying nothing more than your fair share of taxes!