I use a service to fight my property taxes for me. Their commission is
based off of what they save me in taxes.
This year the service lowered my appraisal by 60k and the service was free.
*Why was it free?*
The reduction on the appraisal did not lower my assessed value because my
assessed value is more than 60k less than my original appraised value.
Since the assessed value was not lowered and our taxes are based on the
assessed value my tax bill is unaffected. Also, since the service's fee is
based off of what I actually save on my tax bill my bill from the service
is 0.
*So why fight and why use a service?*
Why not? In my case it didn't help this year, but it didn't cost me
anything in terms of time or money. There have been many years in which it
did help. Especially so when I first moved into the neighborhood.
*Other things everyone should consider...*
*Exemptions*
Certain tax exemptions depend on your personal situation. You may have
access to exemptions others do not.
For example you may be able to take advantage of an exemption if...
- you are 65 or older
- you are disabled
- you are a veteran
- you are combination of 65 older + disabled + veteran
- you are the surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line
of duty
- you are the surviving spouse of US military services member killed in
action
The full list of exemptions are on comptroller page:
https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/docs/
If you think you might be missing an exemption go find a tax lawyer or
service to help you out.
Thanks,
Matt
On Thu, Aug 15, 2019, 10:22 tina bazur <cmbazur@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I honestly have no idea how much it saves but I feel it was worth it.
Because now it's locked for 2 years and when they do raise it again it
shouldnt go up as drastically. Im sure if I had been filing every few
years for the past 12 I would of been better off.
It's also just nice to save money even if it's not all that much.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Jeremy Baran <jjb4314@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: 8/15/19 9:37 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [covna] Re: Property Tax Appraisal Protests
So Tina, how much exactly did that save you on your tax bill? $500? I’m
definitely not a property tax expert, so I’m curious if it was worth the
time. All I can see on their website is they use the appraisal to make an
assessment, and the assessment is what is taxed.
On Aug 15, 2019, at 6:32 AM, tina bazur <cmbazur@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I had efiled in the spring and they graciously offered to lower my value
5000. I didn't accept and instead went yesterday for the formal hearing
(and it was 5 hours including drive time). They offered 30000 yesterday
and I accepted. They lowered my sister's 100000...although she had a
square ft issue that was wrong. We also brought pics (of no improvements)
and they went from a "good" to "fair" condition. And yes that new number
you get is good for two years.
Overall seemed worth it to either hire an agency or do it yourself.
Tina
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Matthew Janiga <m.d.janiga@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: 8/14/19 6:02 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [covna] Re: Property Tax Appraisal Protests
FYI - you can file your protest online.
https://www.traviscad.org/eservices/
Thanks,
Matt
On Wed, Aug 14, 2019, 17:07 margaret & pat roach <
margaretpatroach@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Neighbors, I also was at TCAD today. When I arrived for my 1:15 appt,
the 10:30 appts were just being called. Hundreds of people there, some
standing or sitting on the floor. I spoke w/ a couple of tax folks at a
table & learned that I could submit my info, have it quickly evaluated by
some experts in the back room who would propose an appraisal figure to me,
and, if I accepted their “offer”, I could sign an affidavit saying I agreed
to a hearing w/o my presence. I would then be required to accept the
number that the board decreed. I was advised by then patient lady at the
table that the board members would most probably go with the number from
the first, cursory examination of my case. So, been unwilling to wait 3
hrs, I signed and left. But, before leaving I verified what I’d been told
at our last protest (but that I didn’t entirely understand or believe):
getting your appraisal reduced does NOT affect the amount you owe the
county. That amount is based on your ASSESSMENT. These protests only
address the appraisal. You may not talk or write to the board about the
assessment. It’s evidently carved in stone. So I think I’m getting about
$7K knocked off my appraisal, but I will still write a check for the same
amount in January. My take: total waste of time & gas to take the
more-than-30-minute drive out there. You won’t save a penny. Now, the
good news: a new law requires these appraisals & assessments to be done
every other year. The numbers you have this year are exactly what you’ll
have next year. See y’all at the Saturday bash. ……Margaret on
Queenswood
On Aug 14, 2019, at 3:17 PM, Stephen Anguiano <sranguiano@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I'm back after two hours later than my 10 am appointment. I had my time
to talk and make my case at the formal protest at the TCAD. I was able to
double my savings from the TCAD initial offer. A lot of people and standing
room only (sometimes) waiting rooms and terrible parking.
I highly recommend you do not accept the initial offer if you feel you
can present a case that your home has no updates or lavish updates to your
neighbor's property. I recommend you keep a lot of those mailing of
"Recently Sold" mailer we get from our neighborhood realtors and take
pictures of those home because that is your competition the TCAD is going
to use for recent homes sold in the neighborhood.
I hope to make it on Saturday for the Summer picnic any teenagers in the
hood? I have 14yr old(male) and 12 yr old(female)
Thanks
Stephen
On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 9:46 AM Roaches Gmail <margaretpatroach@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
And did they tell you exactly the amount of dollars & cents this
adjustment would make? They have told me that our tax bill is based in the
assessment, not the appraisal.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 14, 2019, at 9:17 AM, Jeremy Baran <jjb4314@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good luck Stephen! $20k sounds pretty good but I understand it’s not
ideal that you have the most expensive property. After my protest they
lowered their appraisal $80! Yeah, eighty.
On Aug 14, 2019, at 7:30 AM, Stephen Anguiano <sranguiano@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Morning,
I have an appointment today with the TCAD, and I did not accept there
counter offer of 20k lower than their initial appraisal. It would still
make my home on Monarch the most expensive home on the street even though I
have not made any updates since purchasing the property in 2014.
Dorothy, you on to something, but the data collection process needs to
start now for next year appraisal and requesting data from the TCAD to see
all the exemptions codes used in the neighborhood other than the standard
homestead exemption.
Also, I not sure if you are aware the TCAD purchased earlier this year
the Austin Realtors MLS data that doesn't help any.
Thanks,
Stephen Anguiano
On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 12:20 PM b k <gazorna@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
That's great. In the four houses I've bought/sold in the Austin area
that has not been the case so I'm gonna go with my strategy, i.e. don't
protest property tax hikes.
On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 11:29 AM Ross Ciomperlik <rciomperlik@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Our tax appraisal was greater than $100k lower than what our house was
appraised for at the time of purchase. There should be no fear of fighting
to lower your taxes.
Ross
On Thu, Jul 11, 2019, 8:48 AM b k <gazorna@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
That is true, generally speaking. But the two values track each
other, at least in Travis and Williamson counties. If you're buying a
house and the tax appraisal is far lower (like more than 30%) than the
asking price, it's a good bet that the bank won't appraise the house
favorably. A good way to check this is to view recent home sales final
price against the tax records.
When I bought my house the sellers wound up dropping the price
because the bank didn't appraise for their asking price; when checking
the
tax records I could see that this house's tax appraisal was low; some
folks
even use this as a strategy - go in with a high offer and when the bank
says appraisal too low get the sellers to drop the price accordingly.
On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 9:26 AM Ross Ciomperlik <
rciomperlik@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Loans are based on an different appraisal you pay for at the time of
purchase that is required by the bank providing the loan. It is
independent
of the tax appraised value.
Ross
On Thu, Jul 11, 2019, 8:15 AM Jeremy Baran <jjb4314@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
That is very true Rebecca, they are different. But, the assessed
value still matters when purchasing a property. It could actually cause
someone to be denied a loan.
For instance
Purchase price $450,000
Down payment $90,000
Loan amount $360,000
If the assessed value of the property is below $360,000 in this
case, you wouldn’t be approved to purchase the property. So they are
some
consequences for people selling.
On Jul 11, 2019, at 9:05 AM, Rebecca Klier (Redacted sender
"rklier" for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Market value and assessed values are totally different numbers-so
protesting for lower tax value wouldn’t necessarily affect your asking
price.
A lower tax rate could help a buyer decide on one area verses
another.
Becky
rebecca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.deutschemexicana.com
www.instagram.com/deutschemexicana
On Jul 10, 2019, at 10:35 PM, Rebecca Klier (Redacted sender
"rklier" for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
We have been protesting for the last 7 years or so. Generally we
are able to get a reduction based on the fact that we have not made any
improvements since we moved in 12 yrs ago. It is getting harder and
harder
to satisfy TCAD based on the increase in land value and property
appraisals
in our neighborhood. They seem to take advantage that many do not
protest
-and continue to raise every year which makes it harder to convince
them
the value should be less!
They make it so easy for the informal protest-you can request a
reduction online! Please make sure you take advantage of this easy
option
next year!
Becky
rebecca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.deutschemexicana.com
www.instagram.com/deutschemexicana
On Jul 10, 2019, at 9:23 PM, Heather Jank <heatherjank73@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Our original appraised value for 2019 was a 12% increase over 2018.
We used Five Stone Tax Advisors to protest, and they were able to lower
that to the 10% cap, but no lower.
I’ve protested the last 5 years, both online, with realtor
appraisals and through protest companies and have really gotten
nowhere. It
always goes.up 10% over the previous year. The land value increases
over
the last 6 years are insane.
Heather JanK
Ramblewood
On Jul 10, 2019, at 7:27 PM, Margaret McKinney <
margaretemckinney20@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank you Dorothy. We did not file a protest, but maybe next year.
Margaret
On Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 7:05 PM Rita Thompson <
dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dorothy thank you for your willingness to help our community as aIsaiah 43:1 Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you
whole. We have done nothing in this regard but happy to be part of a
neighborhood response in the future Thank you
Rita
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 10, 2019, at 6:50 PM, Jeremy Baran <jjb4314@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hey Dorothy,
I agree with your statement about getting more people in the
neighborhood to protest. I used a company to file my protest and
figure out
all the numbers, I just haven’t heard back from them. But the more
people
who protest, and win, in our neighborhood the better. Wish I could
help you
more with numbers, but I’m still in wait and see mode.
Thanks,
Jeremy
On Jul 10, 2019, at 5:46 PM, Dorothy Trainer <
DorothyTrainer@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Afternoon Neighbors,
I was curious how everyone is doing with their tax appraisal
protests?
After studying our neighborhood I found that nearly everyone saw
an increase of 10% across the board which is the maximum for Homestead
properties year over year. I noticed that several homes were marked
with a
E File Protest in progress and I was curious if anyone has had
success in
protesting and receiving under 10%? We filed an E File and received a
counter offer and I wanted to check-in with everyone before making a
decision on excepting or denying.
Next year, I think we all need to ban together and have the entire
neighborhood protest. The E File is very easy (and free to submit!)
and I
would be willing to help neighbors with the process so we can have a
larger
presence and ultimately better control the crazy increases we are all
seeing. Judging by the recent trends, every lot in COVNA will
increase in
value by $50,000 in the two years so we should all be vigilant in the
process to fight against this.
Here's a link to the site if you would like to research the
neighborhood increase trends:
http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/?cid=1
Thanks to everyone for your input!
*Sincerely, Dorothy Trainer*
--
by name and you are mine.
