Home address: 1412 Brush Street

 2021 Taxable Value: $141,510

 Recent Sales Price: $89,000   – Over-taxed by 59%

Wise County home owners are often unaware of the factors that cause them to pay extra taxes. Protest market value, get a few comparable sales as evidence and you are very likely to reduce your property taxes. An unequal appraisal appeal is easy to prepare.  Just find neighborhood homes with a lower level of assessment (per square foot).  Summarize the data in a table. Property tax appeals are often won with a smile and a bit of data.

Property owners are sometimes reluctant to protest their property taxes because the believe the appeal process is difficult.  It is not difficult and 60 to 80% of owners who appeal are successful. One reason it is difficult for appraisal districts to correctly value homes is they are not homogenous.  Some have been remodeled and some haven’t. Appraisal districts settle appeals at the informal level  to avoid the time consuming and expensive appraisal review board hearings. Not appealing your property taxes annually is the equivalent of volunteering to pay extra property taxes.