File photo by Donna Augsti State Sen. John Pappageorge speaks about appealing tax assessments at a gathering in 2009.

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

Residential tax assessments were recently sent to homeowners throughout Michigan. A local tax assessor said before residents plan to formally appeal them, they should first reach out to their local assessor’s office.

“Come in and talk with us, listen to us,” said Royal Oak Assessor James Geiermann. “We can show them exactly what they are facing.”

At their fingertips are recent and comparable sales, which the department can supply to the homeowner. Geiermann said while there are less home sales in this assessment period that in years past, it is important for the homeowner to get comparable sales.

Homeowners can challenge the tax assessments throughout March at their local Board of Review. The Board of Review is made up of local residents, who hear challenges to the city’s assessment. A city council/commission or township board typically makes the appointments for these spots.

Geiermann said it is critical that residents bring comparable sales from their neighborhood in to the Board of Review.

“You want truly like properties,” he said.

Often, Geiermann said, residents will bring in something as a comparable sale like an 800-square-foot bungalow, when they have a 1,200-square-foot ranch.

“They are comparing apples to oranges there,” he said.

Other times, homeowners point to foreclosures as the basis of their appeal, and while some foreclosure sales are “market value,” Geiermann said it is important for residents to look into the sale closely and consider the mitigating factors surrounding it.

“Every foreclosure should be closely analyzed,” he said.

Local real estate attorney Paul DePorre said the good news this year is the vast majority of homeowners are seeing a reduction in the taxable values of their home. But, he said, residents ought to consider appealing the assessment if they feel their home is overvalued.

“A lot of municipalities are reducing, but I feel there is a lot of meat left on the bone,” said DePorre, who started an Internet based business called Fight Your Tax.

Having comparable sales that are as close to the same square footage, number of bathrooms and bedrooms, and building type is the most important tool in fighting your assessment, DePorre said.

Both DePorre and Geiermann noted it is often very difficult to get relief from the Board of Review, and most requests are denied.

“It’s discouraging, but you have to be persistent and patient,” DePorre said.

If the local Board of Review denies your appeal, the next step is to appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Because of large backlogs, those results are often not rendered for a year or more, DePorre said.

For more information on when the Board of Review is hearing cases in your community, contact the local assessor’s office. For more information on Fight Your Tax, visit www.fightyourtax.com.