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Dallas - Collin Central Appraisal District - Tips for a Successful Property Tax Protest Collin Central Appraisal District assesses property and that value sets your property tax amount. Reducing your property taxes is relatively simple but requires a modest commitment of time. Your other option is to hire a property tax consultant. Basic steps to reducing the property tax assessment set by Collin Central Appraisal District include appealing both market value and unequal appraisal annually, obtaining the Collin Central Appraisal District evidence, preparing for the hearing(s) and attending the informal and/or appraisal review board hearing. This article focuses on the hearing process. There are two options for the "administrative" hearing process at Collin Central Appraisal District: 1) the informal hearing and 2) the appraisal review board (ARB) hearing. Neither the property owner nor Collin Central Appraisal District is required to attend the informal hearing. About 80% of property tax protests are resolved by agreement between the property owner/property tax consultant and the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser. This percentage has declined in recent years. CCAD is resolving a smaller percentage of accounts informally. The second option, which typically occurs if you are not able to reach agreement with the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser, is the ARB hearing. The property owners often receive some property tax relief at the ARB hearing. The ARB decision is typically a compromise. Neither the property owner nor the appraisal district get exactly what they requested. Collin Central Appraisal District appraisers seldom reduce the assessed value for a home by $100,000 or more. CCAD policy requires a supervisor's approval for reduction of $100,000 or more. CCAD supervisors seldom approve reduction in excess of $1,000,000. If you are seeking a reduction of more than $100,000 for a home, you should probably skip the informal hearing with the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser. Make sure you arrive early for the hearing and try to project a cheerful, cordial and relaxed attitude, even if you are nervous. After you check in with the Collin Central Appraisal District clerk, you will likely wait for 30 - 60 minutes. Bring a book, newspaper or work to pass the time. Greet the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser cheerfully and enthusiastically. His goal is similar to yours; reach a compromise quickly. At Collin Central Appraisal District, the appraisers are encouraged to make changes if there is evidence to support the change. The exception is unequal appraisal. Most Collin Central Appraisal District appraisers are reluctant to make changes on unequal appraisal evidence. After you exchange and discuss evidence with the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser, he will likely make you an offer to settle the property tax protest. You can accept the offer or continue the appeal with the ARB hearing. In most cases the value offered informally will also be suggested by the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser at the ARB hearing. Property owners are often reluctant to attend the appraisal review board (ARB) hearing because they think they are wasting their time with such a small property. This is not the case. Collin Central ARB members are courteous, respectful and want the property owner to feel good about the ARB hearing. Players at the ARB hearings include the 3 ARB members, property owner (or property tax consultant) and the Collin Central Appraisal District appraiser. After introductions and a brief explanation of the process:
Property Tax Tip #1: Appealing Property Taxes for Your Home Property Tax Tip #2: Preparing for Your Property Tax Hearing Property Tax Tip #3: The Hearing Process Hire O'Connor & Associates to appeal high property taxes. You pay NOTHING unless we save you money! Links & Resources | |