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If
you feel a mistake has been made in valuing your property,
contact our office. Staff are available to answer questions. Or,
you may speak with a field appraiser regarding how your value
was determined.
Public Information Hours
8:30 am to 5:00
pm,
Monday - Thursday
If it appears an error may have been made, the department
can conduct an assessment review and, if indicated, adjust the
assessed value of your property (through May 31 of the year
preceding the year in which taxes are due).
You can also appeal to the
Cowlitz
County Board of Equalization. The Board of Equalization is independent from the County
Assessor's Office.
To appeal a valuation to the Cowlitz County Board of
Equalization:
-
You
must file a completed petition form within 30 days of the mail
date on the Value Change Notice you receive OR by July 1st of
the year before the tax is due, whichever is later.
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You
must present proof that the Assessor has erred in the appraisal.
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This proof should include the following types of information:
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Sales
of comparable properties in your area.
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Any
pertinent information that provides clear evidence of the
difference between the assessed value and the market value.
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Evidence
of conditions not known to the Assessor at the time of
assessment.
-
Adequate
documentation to support your claim – for example, if the land
will not percolate or is not suitable for building.
-
You
also may request copies of comparable sales information used by
the Assessor to value your property.
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You
do not have to be represented by an attorney to appeal your
property assessment.
If you do not agree with the county board's
decision, you may further appeal to the
State
Board of Tax Appeals.
Like
the county board, the state board considers only questions of
value. Property owners also can pursue litigation in court. Questions about appeal procedures can be directed to
the Cowlitz County Board of Equalization or the Assessor’s
Office.
This page last
updated:
04.16.2010 |
