How to appeal if your property taxes go up

Yesterday, we reported that reassessment notices, due out this month, are likely to result in property tax increases for many in Midtown. 

The overall value of Midtown residential property is going up 9 percent with reassessment this year, but you can appeal.

Jackson County officials start mailing out assessment notices in about two weeks but say overall Midtown residential values went up about three times more than those countywide.

That means higher property taxes for many homeowners but informal or formal appeals can be filed.

Ed Stoll, county deputy chief administrative officer, said Midtown values went up partly because it was its turn for a more intense appraisal.

More than half of the 10,000 residential properties there were examined from the outside and that was put with sales and market data, he said.

Stoll is 6-feet-6 inches tall and used to play basketball for legendary Missouri Tiger coach Norm Stewart.

He became a lawyer whose practice included tax cases, including property tax disputes. When the county hired him in 2009 as director of collections, he said, “It’s important for taxpayers to know we are going to treat them fairly.”

Ed Stoll, county deputy chief administrative officer, and Curtis Koons, county assessment director.

How to appeal

Last week, he described the two appeal processes for those who disagree with reassessments. If property tax rates stay the same, as projected, taxes will go up about $275 on a $200,000 house assessed 9 percent higher.

An informal appeal can be done by phone or online and the deadline for it is June 14.

A ruling can come quickly with it and people do not generally hire lawyers. Things that can play a role often involve conditions inside the house, such as problems that require expensive work.

A formal appeal to the Board of Equalization can be filed by  July 8. It goes to a hearing before the board and people often have lawyers although they are not required.

As for reassessment rates for businesses in Midtown and Jackson County, they remain largely flat following a 10 percent decrease two years ago, said Curtis Koons, county assessment director.

 Previous posts

Details

  • informal appeals (not operational until notices are sent)   816-881-4601, www.jacksongov.org/appeal

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