APPEALING YOUR SNOHOMISH COUNTY PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS

First find out what the major problems are with your assessments by looking at comparable real estate sales during the period in question. For example the latest assessments are for the tax year 2009 actually means the period from 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2009 with the assessment effective on 01/01/2009! That means that when doing comparables one has to look at other property sales from 01/01/2008 to 01/01/2009! DEADLINE for appealing this year is 08/07/2009 so get your appeals in the mail soon!

My recommendation is to look on line at real estate sources such as Zillow and look for comparable sales in your area or in fact around the county. After you have done that you need to contact the Assessor’s office and obtain copies of the assessor’s report on those properties. You may use that with the Board of Equalization. I strongly recommend at least 3 or more comparables when you appear before the board.

Things to appeal:

1.      Land valuations- Snohomish County is notoriously bad at assessing land valuations. In many cases they based their assessments on lots or land that has services such as: sewer, water and improved roads. They rarely take into account topography and wetlands. They assume that all lots are the same and that is a mistake!

2.      Burned down/torn down buildings or other mistakes- You might find by looking at their own paperwork ON YOUR PROPERTY that they are including and taxing buildings or even land attachments that either no longer exist or were sold decades ago. That’s how bad their records are.

3.      Taxing the wrong property- They have also, on occasions taxed someone else’s property and sent the tax bill to others by mistake. Make sure that it is indeed YOUR PROPERTY that is being taxed. Check your address against the Tax ID number!

4.      Older homes- If your home needs major repairs, a new roof, new septic tank, siding or etc. those items must be subtracted from the value of your building structure. Check it out carefully.

5.      Set asides- If you own property next to a fish creek and have been ordered to set back some 130 feet from the creek, appeal your land value and demand that you receive a tax refund on that property that has been taken from you by the county when you go before the board of equalization.

THE PROCESS

After a period of time you will initially receive a letter notifying you that they have received the appeal. Some months later you will be contacted by the Assessor’s Office and they will either say NO or they will try and give in to get you off their back by offering a minor adjustment. Be prepared to be insulted by the person who calls. Cindy Portmann, the Snohomish County Assessor has a reputation as being arrogant, nasty and down right rude! Her employees try and imitate their boss!

Finally you will have an appearance before the Board of Equalization. Bring all of your data and be clear and concise with your reasons for appeal. More often than not if you have clear indications that property sales prove that you are over assessed, they will judge in your favor.

Link for appeals form.

The appeals form has 4 pages. Fill out only pages 2 and 3. Fill out 2 completely and only fill out the top of page 3. Beginning with the General Description on page 3 leave it blank and go down and check the box that says: “I intend to submit documentary evidence… and etc” and go ahead and send the form in at the address at the bottom of page 3.

Good luck and join the tens of thousands of Snohomish County residents who are mad as hell and are not going to take anymore!