Property Value Appeals for Tax Purposes

Ben Franklin considered taxes to be one of only two certainties in the World, and this year is no exception for many residents of Ohio. In fact, tax burdens should be more prevalent in the minds of many Ohio property owners as they have received notification of significant increases in the assessed value of their property.

Ohio determines property values for purposes of taxation through an appraisal and update process. For example, the last appraisal year for Hamilton County was 2005 and the next appraisal will take place in 2011. This tax year, 2008, constitutes an “update” year for the appraisal process and may have resulted in an increase in property taxes. Hamilton County residents should have received a notice via U.S. Mail concerning any changes to the tax valuation of residential or commercial property.

The good news is this increase in property valuation and taxes can be challenged through an “appeal process.” Each county has a Board of Revision, or an equivalent office, specifically created to handle these appeals. In Hamilton County this Board is a three-person panel composed of local officials – Auditor Dusty Rhodes, Commissioner David Pepper, and Treasurer Robert Goering.

After an appeal is properly submitted to the Auditor’s office, a hearing will be set by the Board of Revision. Depending on the amount of the appeal, the school board may challenge the requested modification in valuation. The school board’s attorney will likely ask for the appraised value to be raised. For this reason, it is important to retain an attorney to advocate on your behalf.

Valuation appeals for the 2008 tax year are due March 31, 2009. If you are contemplating challenging your 2008 valuation, it is important to contact your attorney today.