Friday, March 5, 2004

Homeowners may challenge assessments

Fulton County taxpayers can challenge their property assessments if they believe their home or business property valuations made by the Fulton County Board of Assessors are incorrect.

Under Georgia law, valuations can be challenged by following these procedures:

• Each year between January 1 and April 1, property owners may file a "tax return" with the Fulton County Board of Assessors. This return, which includes the property’s value, requires the Assessors to review the property’s valuation.

• If the Fulton County Board of Assessors' review determines a value different from the value "returned" by the property owner, the Assessors will send a notice of the new value to the property owner.

• The property owner then has 45 days to file a written appeal of this new valuation with the Board of Assessors.

State law also requires property owners to file a return if the property description has changed (new construction, an addition, etc.) from the previous year.

Property owners can obtain tax return forms from the Fulton County Board of Assessors via the internet at www.fultonassessor.org