I just got my property tax assessment and WTF?!?

[david_mcmanus]

We went up 74K in 1 year? It even went down 1K last year. This is on a house that I could maybe sell for 375K now if I was lucky. We went from 324K to 399K this year. They say the land is worth 60K more and improvements are worth 14K more.

UGH!!!!!

[ira s]

David,
Appeal it! About 50% of the tax assessment appeals are successful, and it sure sounds like yours would be one of them.
If you can find some good comps as far as vintage, size, condition, and area, use them. Otherwise, find the worst things about your house and take pictures of them
About 15 years ago, I appealed my property tax assessment and won. Had a Victorian built in 1899 that had a brick foundation, and there was a sewer line break, so black smelly liquid was seeping through the bricks. It made a convincing photograph.

[david_mcmanus]

I understand that here in Washington, they are capped on how much they can actually increase your property tax; however, I hear that the City of Kenmore has been banking their tax increases for a while now. Who knows what will happen when I actually get the bill in the mail next year. I will be contesting my assessment, Ira. It's so bogus. All of my neighbors in my sub got similar values as well and they are none too happy.

[The Tim]

[david_mcmanus]

[mukoh]

Property taxes on land go up higher on things like city wide rezones, comprehensive plan changes that allow more dense use for the dirt.

[uwp]

Sorry to bump this but I figured it would be better than starting a new thread...

If you purchased a property for 350k, but it was appraised in King County records for about 700k and the previous years' prop taxes were $5,400, would the taxes go down next year? Or would you have to wait until the tax bill came the next year and go through the entire appeal process and prove that the house is actually worth what you paid for it?

[david_mcmanus]

I think there are going to be a lot of pissed off people (myself included) in the 2 weeks when the bills come out. Unfortunately, if your neighbors find some knife catchers to keep paying idiotic prices (circa 2007), that bumps your assessment up (and taxes) because the county goes off of those comps.

[david_mcmanus]

uwp, taxes never go down here. Never.

[mukoh]

McManus,
My taxes on two rentals went down which are South Snoco.

The other ones went up though.

[david_mcmanus]

Sorry, I was referring to KingCo.

[mukoh]

KingCo as well. Haven't seen large swings there, one property in Lake City two years ago shot up 35%. One letter to the assessors office from my attorney took care of it.

[david_mcmanus]

My 2009 taxes just posted to KingCo's website with an increase of $525, 14% over last year. Here's hoping it will drop by that same amount next year, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the same increase.

2009 Tax Information
Tax: $ 3,958.65
Other Charges
Fire District $ 283.41
Surface Water $ 120.24
Noxious Weed $ 2.10
Conservation $ 9.98
Total billed: $ 4,374.38
Amount paid: $ 0.00
Interest: $ 0.00
Penalty: $ 0.00
Amount due:
$ 2,187.19

Land value: $ 200,000
Improvement value: $ 199,000
Levy code:1442
Status: Taxable
Omit year: 0000

2008 Tax Information
Tax: $ 3,471.17
Other Charges
Fire District $ 281.57
Surface Water $ 85.02
Noxious Weed $ 2.10
Conservation $ 9.98
Total billed: $ 3,849.84
Amount paid: $ 3,849.84
Interest: $ 0.00
Penalty: $ 0.00
Amount due:
$ 0.00

Land value: $ 140,000
Improvement value: $ 184,000
Levy code:1442
Status: Taxable
Omit year: 0000