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Texas Property Tax Appraisal - Corrections

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Incorrect property tax appraisals can significantly burden you with additional and unwarranted financial obligations, often resulting in overpayment and a higher tax burden than necessary. Understanding your rights and how to challenge these appraisals effectively can prevent unnecessary financial strain.

For over 25 years, Michael Saegert has provided quality property tax law services, drawing upon his experience as former in-house counsel for the Harris County Appraisal District and now advocating for property owners. His knowledge gained from working both for and with appraisal districts, taxing jurisdictions, and agents has allowed him to develop a methodical and cost-effective approach to appraisal corrections. The result has been highly favorable, leading to numerous clients obtaining both correct property valuations and significant property tax refunds.

Reach out today and learn how we can assist you. Consultations are always free. Based in Houston, Texas, our goal when it comes to appraisal corrections is to not only "correct a wrong," as some say, but to prevent similar errors from happening in the future. Basically, we'll do the heavy lifting so you can do less worrying. Allow yourself to have some comfort in knowing someone has your back.

Do You Need Assistance with Property Tax Appraisal Corrections?

Property tax appraisal corrections involve adjusting property valuations to reflect accurate market values and ensure fair taxation, usually after a tax appraisal has been certified.

Understanding if you need professional assistance with appraisal corrections begins with identifying specific errors that give rise to an over-appraisal and the legal actions you can take to address them.

Here are just a few key indicators that might suggest you need help:

Erroneous appraisals: If you believe your property has been over-appraised, leading to higher taxes, it's vital to appeal this appraisal to avoid overpayment. Even if the general tax deadline has passed, there are options to seek a correction to a property's over-valuation.

Unsuccessful informal reviews: Legal representation can provide additional leverage if an informal review with the appraisal district fails to yield a satisfactory recommendation. An appraisal representative's misunderstanding of property tax laws often leads to a flawed recommendation. While unintentional, the additional taxation is wrong.

Complex property types: Unique properties such as business personal property or properties subject to special valuation, such as agricultural land, common areas, detention ponds, and easements, require specific knowledge to contest appraisals successfully. Thus, appraisal errors can occur if legislative mandates are incorrectly applied or better yet not applied at all.

Deadline pressures / Late filed appeals: Missing the appeal deadlines can forfeit your right to challenge the appraisal. However, relief can still be sought in certain instances, especially when circumstances beyond your control cause you to miss a deadline.

If any of these factors apply to your situation, it may be time to seek help from a knowledgeable property tax attorney. Consulting with our lawyer, Michael Saegert, can provide clarity on your options and improve your chances of a successful resolution.

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Understanding the Property Tax Appraisal Corrections Process

The property tax corrections process starts with reviewing and finding out what is causing an over-assessment in the first place. Here are a couple of tips you can do to find out where and or how the problem occurred:

Compare prior year appraisal information. Review previous years to see if the assessment error is new or has persisted yearly. You may find discrepancies in the underlying appraisal records used to determine property details or valuation. Errors such as square footage errors, incorrect grading, improvements added in error, and construction details are just a few things that can create substantial valuation errors that perpetuate over-appraisals in a property.

See if the property has been appraised multiple times. Sometimes, the appraisal district will list the same property more than once by creating two or more property accounts for the same property. This may include double-assessments of business personal property, improvements listed in the appraisal roll, and even land. While it may be difficult to correct, Texas law does provide a means to correct errors of this type for the current and preceding four years. An attorney's guidance can be beneficial here, especially since relief hinges on the legal application of existing law and not appraisal expertise.

See if an appraisal limitation has been misapplied. Homestead properties and properties under the "circuit breaker" limitation may be taxed lower than market value. A common error exists when the limitation has been removed because of a mailing address or name correction. The appraisal district assumes an ownership change has transpired, which is not the case. If this is the case, the limitation should not have been removed, and the valuation may be reduced for the current and previous years.

You believe the Appraisal District is simply flat-out wrong. Mistakes made by appraisal staff do and will happen. State law recognizes this and has provided a mechanism to address errors that cannot otherwise be corrected. Where an obvious mistake exists, the Chief Appraiser can modify the certified appraisal records up until the tax delinquency date. Again, however, you are encouraged to seek out legal counsel. Direct experience in dealing with the Chief Appraiser usually requires you to effectively articulate how and why the error happened. In doing so, your chance of getting the Chief Appraiser to agree with you increase significantly.

Working with an experienced property tax attorney enhances your likelihood of achieving an accurate property valuation, reducing your tax liabilities. Michael Saegert, Attorney at Law, is dedicated to serving Texas residents throughout Houston and surrounding areas, along with Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and more.

Contact us today to explore how we can assist you throughout the property tax appraisal corrections process.

Why Partner With Michael Saegert, Attorney at Law?

Navigating the property tax appraisal corrections process requires a precise understanding of complex legal and appraisal procedures. Michael Saegert leverages his extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of property tax law to manage and resolve appraisal issues effectively.

His approach to property tax appraisal corrections is founded on these key principles:

Client focus is at the heart of the practice. Michael Saegert prioritizes his clients' needs, ensuring loyalty and dedication throughout your representation.

Effective communication drives informed decisions. Michael emphasizes proactive communication through email, phone, and text, fostering timely and responsive interactions that build trust and facilitate conflict resolution.

Utilizing innovative technology is paramount for superior legal service. Michael's firm employs advanced computing systems, specialized legal and accounting software, a comprehensive Document Management System (DMS), and a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system to reduce costs, expedite case matters, and achieve significant outcomes.

Guidance is backed by knowledge and experience. Michael maintains an up-to-date understanding of property tax law through active involvement in legal associations, continuous education, and networking with industry professionals.