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Denton Central Appraisal District - Tips for a Successful Property Tax Protest Denton 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 Denton Central Appraisal District include appealing both market value and unequal appraisal annually, obtaining the Denton Central Appraisal District evidence, preparing for the hearing(s) and attending the informal and/or appraisal review board hearing. Few property owners are aware of the option to obtain the DCAD evidence. Sometimes referred to as the House Bill 201 package or 41.461 package, this information in invaluable in preparing for your property tax hearing. This article focuses on the hearing process. There are two options for the "administrative" hearing process at Denton Central Appraisal District: 1) the informal hearing and 2) the appraisal review board (ARB) hearing. While many property owners have attended an informal hearing, few have attended an ARB hearing. However, home owners should not be concerned about attending the formal/ARB hearing. It is not an intimidating process. Neither the property owner nor Denton 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 Denton Central Appraisal District appraiser. This percentage has declined in recent years. DCAD is resolving a smaller percentage of accounts informally. The second option, which typically occurs if you are not able to reach agreement with the Denton Central Appraisal District appraiser, is the ARB hearing. The property owners often receive some property tax relief at the ARB hearing. Denton Central Appraisal District appraisers seldom reduce the assessed value for a home by $100,000 or more. If you are seeking a reduction of more than $100,000 for a home, you should probably skip the informal hearing with the Denton 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 Denton Central Appraisal District clerk, you will likely wait for 30 - 60 minutes. Bring a book, newspaper or work to pass the time. Greet the Denton Central Appraisal District appraiser cheerfully and enthusiastically. His goal is similar to yours; reach a compromise quickly. At Denton Central Appraisal District, the appraisers are encouraged to make changes if there is evidence to support the change. The exception is unequal appraisal. Most Denton Central Appraisal District appraisers are reluctant to make changes on unequal appraisal evidence. After you exchange and discuss evidence with the Denton 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 Denton 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. Denton 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 Denton 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 | |