Want To Appeal Your Property Assessment?
It is that time of year, property assessments are arriving! It is important to know that your property tax bill is based on the assessed value of your property which is determined on a certain date, generally on an annual basis. If you want to appeal your property assessment, follow the steps below.
Step 1 – Review your Property Assessment Notice
First of all, review your property assessment and ensure that all of the information is correct. You will also want to make sure that the market value of your property is correct, to do so click HERE!
Fill out your address to check out the assessment posted online, and double check it with what you received. This page will also provide you with an easy way to compare your home with other homes in your area. In a sense completing your own market research to verify your property assessment.
Step 2 – Discuss your Concerns
If you believe information on your Notice is incorrect, please contact your local BC Assessment office and discuss your concerns or questions. Click here for contact information. The contact information for your local office is also listed on the front of your Property Assessment Notice.
An appraiser will be pleased to:
- discuss your property file;
- explain how the market value was determined;
- refer you to sales of similar properties in your neighborhood;
- if you and the appraiser agree there is an error, the assessment can be corrected without an independent review.
Step 3 – Request Review
If you have completed the previous steps and are still not satisfied, you may request an independent review by the Property Assessment Review Panel. You must submit your written request to your local BC Assessment office no later than January 31. A request for a review is referred to as a Notice of Complaint and must include;
- your reason for requesting a review;
- the Property Assessment Roll number as stated on the Assessment Notice;
- the property description (address and/or legal description) as stated on your Notice;
- your full name, mailing address and a contact phone number where you can be reached during the day;
- a statement indicating whether or not you own the property in question; and
- if you appoint an agent, the agent’s full name and business phone number.
Once you have filed your complaint to request a review, you will receive a Notice of Hearing to advise you of the date and place to appear before the Panel. It is recommended that you prepare for your hearing now. After you have filed your complaint you will then need to phone your local BC Assessment office to arrange a specific hearing time. The phone number is listed on the front of your Property Assessment Notice, or on your Notice of Hearing.
** Please note that your Notice of Hearing may not arrive until five days prior to your hearing date **
Step 4 – Prepare
It is important to properly to prepare for your hearing. Gather all of the relevant data in order to build your case and ensure that proper research is done.
If you cannot attend the hearing in person, you may send a written submission or appoint someone to appear on your behalf. Hearings will occur on select dates between February 1 and March 15. If you plan to be away or unavailable during this time, you should contact BC Assessment to minimize any scheduling conflicts.
For more information on how to prepare for your hearing, please visit the Ministry PARP website.
Step 5 – Appear
This may be an obvious step, however let’s include it to ensure that all of your bases are covered. Show up on time for your hearing. The length of your hearing is about 30 min, as a result, arrive early to have time to prepare. You have 5-8 minutes to state your case. A PARP hearing breakdown is available on the Ministry PARP website.
Please Note: if you file after the January 31st deadline or if your complaint contains a substantive error, the Panel may declare it invalid and refuse to hear your complaint.
Step 6 – Panel Decision
Both parties will state their case, and then the panel will review the facts in a separate room. Time will be taken here to deliberate and discuss, ultimately coming to a decision. You will receive a formal Decision Notice which BC Assessment is required to mail to you by April 7.
The Panel may confirm the assessment for lack of evidence, change the assessment or the information contained on the Property Assessment Notice. The Panel is not required to provide a written rationale for its decision. Furthermore, it may also decide no change is required.
Step 7 – Appeal a Panel Decision
Finally, if you are not satisfied with the Panel’s decision, you can file an appeal with the Property Assessment Appeal Board (PAAB). The deadline to file your appeal with the Board is April 30.
More information can be found online at www.assessmentappeal.bc.ca [email protected], or by calling 604-775-1740 in metro Vancouver. 1-888-775-1740 toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia.
For more information on real estate market in Vancouver, current trends, buying a home or selling a home, contact Leo Wilk – Your Top Vancouver Realtor.
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