when should i protest my assessment?
If you believe your home would not likely have sold for the amount of your assessment on January 1, 2023, then you should file a protest. Note: the assessed value is based upon the value on January 1, 2023 not today's market value. File your protest as soon as you receive the notice in April 2023. Protests must be filed between April 1st thru April 30th to the County Assessor.
How does the appeals board decide to approve a protest?
Each County Assesor will form appeals boards to review protests. You can simply submit your protest form provided by the county and hope for the best. The appeals board will review the protest and approve the protest by reducing the assessed value or rejecting the protest. The appeals board may reduce the value or increase the assessed value by any amount. In order to increase the likelyhood of a reduction, IAA provides homeowners with a market report with photos and adjustments to support your protest report and increase the likelyhood of an approved reuction of your assessed value.
can i attend a protest hearing?
You may select to be present for an oral hearing if you wish to speak the appeals board directly. You will be given a small amount of time (usually 5 mins or less) to present your protest. You may take the report IAA provides you and discuss the market value directly with the appeals board. Having our report will aid the appeals board in understanding why you seek a reduction of your assessment.
why should i chose iaa to prepare my protest?
IAA has prepared protests for our clients since 2007. Our market reports make it easy for appeals boards to understand why your property is over assessed. We complete the protest form and a market report for the appeals board. IAA makes it easy for homeowners to quickly protest their assessed values and win! Our protest specialists are Licensed Real Estate agents who are informed and knowledgeable on market values for Polk, Dallas and Warren Counties.
Will a lower property assessment mean my property will sell for less money?
The simple answer is NO! The assessed value IS NOT THE CURRENT MARKET VALUE! The assessed value for the most recent evaluation is based upon the estimated value for January 1, 2023. The assessed value is not meant to be the actual market value as it is based upon the market information from 2022/21. A higher assessed value will not cause your property to sell for a higher price, it only means your home will be taxed higher than other homes in the market.
How does the condition of my home affect the assessed value?
Whether your home is in top condition or has some deferred maintenance issues will absolutely make a difference in setting your assessed value. The County Assessor can't visit every single home and individually assess each property. If your home is in top condition, you very well maybe under assessed! If your home has deferred maintenace issues like, old mechanicals, siding, roof, windows, doors, kitchen, baths and updates, your home may be over assessed. IAA specializes in finding comparable homes that reflect the actual fair market value of your property and sharing that information in our market report for board of appeal to review.
what happens if i lose my protest?
If you lose your protest or aren't satisfied with the results at the County Board of Appeals, you can take your protest to the Iowa Property Assesment Appeals Board (PAAB). The PAAB will only review your protest after the local county board of appeals has ruled on your protest.
How are property taxes calculated?
We found a youtube video that does an excellent job of explaining it from Iowa Tax & Tags.