MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AFTER A REASSESSMENT
TAX QUESTIONS
1. Q. How much are my taxes going to be?
A). In order to calculate your taxes you will need to have your assessed value
and then go to the assessor’s home page and click on millage info. Select the 2009
millage rate for your taxing district.
VALUE QUESTIONS
2. Q. How did you calculate the value of my property?
A) We used sales of similar properties to estimate a market value for your property. It is the same concept used by fee Appraisers in estimating your property value for mortgage purposes.
3. Q. How can I find the value of my neighbor’s property?
A)You can do this by going to our website at www.bcgov.net, click on Departments then click on Assessor. Next scroll down and click on “Property Max” and follow the links to look up property values. If you need access to a computer, they are available at all of the public libraries as well as the assessor’s office.
4. Q. What was my property value last year?
A) You may find your property value on your last year’s tax statement. If your statement is not available, go to www.bcgov.net, then click on Departments. Next click on
Assessor and scroll down and click on “Property Max” and follow the links to look up property values. You may also contact the Assessor’s Office at one of the telephone numbers listed on your assessment notice.
5. Q. What is the value of my land? Or what is the value of my building?
A) To find the value of your land or building, go to our website at www.bcgov.net, and click on Departments then click on Assessor. Next scroll down and click on “Property Max” and follow the links to look up property values. You may also contact the Assessor’s Office at one of the telephone numbers listed on your assessment notice.
6. Q. Is my property’s assessed value the same as my taxes?
A) No. It is used to help calculate what your taxes will be. However, there are other factors such as the budget and millage rates. They vary according to taxing districts.
7. Q. Why did my property value increase?
A) Your property value has increased due to the increase in the market value over a period of five years. This is a reassessment year; therefore the value of your property reflects that increase. Your last year’s value was based upon the 2003 reassessment, and your value this year was based upon the 2008 reassessment, which is just being implemented now, after a one year delay.
8. Q. How did you calculate the assessed value of my property?
A) If your property qualified as your primary residence, we multiplied 4% of the market value to arrive at an assessed value. Additionally, if your property qualified as agricultural property, we multiplied 4% of the use value to determine the assessed value. However, you multiply 6% of the market value for any other use. If you have additional questions, please call 470-2850 .
9. Q. How can my property be valued at more than what I paid for it?
A) There may be various reasons for this. However, you will need to file an appeal if you disagree with the value reported on your assessment notice.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
10. Q. How do I know if my property is assessed at 4%?
A) This information is on your Assessment Notice under the “Ratio Column”. If .04 is in the column, your property is assessed at 4%.
11. Q. How do I know if I have the Homestead Exemption?
A) This exemption is denoted on your tax bill but not on your assessment notice.
12. Q. How do I know if I have the Agricultural Use exemption?
A) If there is a value in the “ Use Value Agricultural” row, and in the “Taxable Value” column, you have the agricultural use classification.
13. Q. Can I receive 4% on vacant land?
A) Yes. You may receive 4% on the vacant land if your home was not completed by January 1 st of the tax year, but you occupied it as your legal residence during the year. A 4% assessment ratio is also given to land that has an agricultural classification. For both of the above examples the appropriate application must be filed in a timely manner with the assessor’s office.
OTHER QUESTIONS
14. Q. Did someone come out and inspect my property?
A) Many properties are inspected annually and during reassessment cycles. Your
property most likely was inspected during one of these periods.
15. Q. I received an Assessment Notice for property I no longer own. What do I do?
A) Call us at one of the phone numbers listed on your Assessment Notice.
16. Q. Why did my acreage change from last year, I didn't do anything to cause a change?
A) Call us at one of the telephone numbers listed on your Assessment Notice.
17. Q. May I speak to an Appraiser or the Assessor regarding my Assessment Notice?
A) Yes, if an appeal has been received by the Assessor’s office.
18. Q. What does “Other Property” mean on the Assessment Notice?
A) There are three classes of property on the notice: owner occupied residential, agricultural and other. “Other Property” means non-exempt property assessed at 6%.
19. Q. Why didn’t I receive an Assessment Notice?
A) A substantial majority of Assessment Notices will be mailed the last week of September 2009. Please call 470-2850 if you did not receive an assessment notice.
20. Q. I sold part of my property and the notice still shows the entire tract. What can I do to correct this?
A) Call us at one of the telephone numbers listed on the Assessment Notice.
21. Q. What is the definition of market value?
A) The most probable price in terms of cash, a property would sell for, after being exposed to an open market for a reasonable length of time, considering a knowledgeable buyer and seller, acting prudently and without duress.
22. Q. What is the deadline for filing an appeal?
A) You can file an appeal within 90 days from the date on your notice, even if you receive a tax bill in the mean time.
23. Q. What is the date of my appraisal?
A) The reappraisal date is December 31, 2007. Your reassessment implementation was delayed for one year, by County Council.
24. Q. How can I appeal my value if I don’t know what my taxes are going to be?
A) The Assessor cannot accept an appeal based on the amount of your taxes. In accordance with State Law you may only appeal the fair market value, the special use value or the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
25. Q. What is the difference between an assessment notice and a tax notice?
A) An assessment notice is not a bill. It simply gives notice of your new property
value or a change in an assessment ratio. A tax bill shows the actual dollar amount
of taxes to be paid, based on the value shown on the assessment notice. A tax
bill is mailed after the assessment notice.
26. Q. My property address is incorrect, how do I get it corrected?
A) If your property’s address is incorrect contact the Assessor’s Office at one of the telephone numbers listed on your assessment notice.
