Residential Property Assessment Appeal
2013 Court-Ordered Municipal Reassessment Timeline
Buying a new home can be an exciting but stressful event. Many consumers are hesitant to purchase real estate due to concerns about the property reassessment they may have to face the following year. The purpose of such an assessment is to place a value on real property in order to have a basis for taxation. Because all of the real property in each county located in Pennsylvania is to be uniformly assessed, from time to time, counties reassess their real property values.
As the Allegheny County property assessments are underway, the concerns of both new homebuyers and long-time property owners have become more prevalent with the uncertainty surrounding the court-ordered reassessments. The preliminary property values for Allegheny County are scheduled to be released in early to mid 2012 with the final values to follow a few months thereafter. Allegheny County is expected to hire approximately 70 hearing officers to adjudicate the high volume of property assessment appeals that are expected.
Assessment law in Pennsylvania is a statutory enactment known as The General County Assessment Law, 72 P.S. § 5020 – 101 et seq. The statutory assessment scheme applies to all 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania subject to designated classifications which contain similarities and variations in the administration of assessments. The law requires that each board of assessment appeals consider, in conjunction with each other, three methods of arriving at actual value for real properties which include (1) cost (reproduction or replacement, as applicable, less depreciation, and all forms of obsolescence), (2) comparable sales, and (3) income. The taxpayer is entitled to equalization and uniformity in assessment.
Bernstein Law Firm, P.C. has more than 40 years experience in analyzing the value of assets and representing the clients’ interest in bankruptcy and liquidation valuations. Through that experience, we take a practical approach to valuation based upon actual values. The value of real property is not merely what a third party appraiser says it is, rather the value is what someone will actually pay to purchase your home. To assist you in appealing your property assessment the lawyers at the Bernstein Law Firm, P.C. are second to none.
The Bernstein Law Firm represents clients in property assessment appeals as part of its real estate transactions practice. A property assessment appeal is more than claiming your property taxes are too high. Under Pennsylvania law, the official assessment is considered a valid assessment and the burden of proof is on the taxpayer to prove otherwise. This is where our staff and attorneys are able to assist. The Bernstein Law Firm will complete the due diligence and comparative analysis on your property and develop sufficient admissible evidence to rebut the prima facie validity of the assessment, cross examine any evidence offered by the taxing authorities and answer any questions presented by the board in an effort to secure successful results for our clients.
Click on the links below to download the proper forms and fee schedule for your specific needs.
» 2013 Assessment Fee Schedule
» 2013 Assessment Appeals Form
» Appeals Appointment of Authorized Representative
When you have completed and signed the forms, please send them to us, with the appropriate payment amount and our representation can begin.
If you have any additional questions during this process, please feel free to call Kirk Burkley 412.456.8100
If you are interested in Commercial Property Assessments, call 412-456-8100 for more information.
For more information and a link to the Allegheny County Assessment website please click here: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/opa/aforms.aspx
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