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Process for Filing an Abatement
What is the process for filing for an abatement?
The Board of Assessors is authorized by law to request information that is necessary to confirm the property data. To preserve your right to appeal an abatement decision, you must provide all information requested by the Board of Assessors. Failure to respond to an information request within 30 days of the request will result in a denial of the application and may bar an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board.
After you file your application, the Board of Assessors may contact you to arrange for a complete interior and exterior inspection of your property (unless the property has been recently inspected and there have been no changes). This inspection is an important part of the review process. If you refuse the inspection, the Board of Assessors will deny the application.
Commercial or industrial property owners may also be required to provide additional Income and Expense Information. Failure to provide this information within 30 days of the request will result in a denial of the application.
Possible Board of Assessors Decisions
The Board of Assessors has 3 months in which to act upon applications that have been filed on time. They will notify you of their decision through the following notices:
The deadline for filing abatement cannot be waived or extended for any reason. If the application is not filed by the due date, you lose all rights to abatement and the assessors, by law, cannot grant you one.
The Board of Assessors is authorized by law to request information that is necessary to confirm the property data. To preserve your right to appeal an abatement decision, you must provide all information requested by the Board of Assessors. Failure to respond to an information request within 30 days of the request will result in a denial of the application and may bar an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board.
After you file your application, the Board of Assessors may contact you to arrange for a complete interior and exterior inspection of your property (unless the property has been recently inspected and there have been no changes). This inspection is an important part of the review process. If you refuse the inspection, the Board of Assessors will deny the application.
Commercial or industrial property owners may also be required to provide additional Income and Expense Information. Failure to provide this information within 30 days of the request will result in a denial of the application.
Possible Board of Assessors Decisions
The Board of Assessors has 3 months in which to act upon applications that have been filed on time. They will notify you of their decision through the following notices:
- Notice of Approval - A reasonable abatement will be granted if the property was assessed in excess of its fair cash value, at more than its just proportion, or improperly classified. The Assessors' Department will abate the amount specified in the notice.
- Notice of Denial - No abatement will be granted. A denial will be issued in cases where the assessors made a decision based on the merits of the abatement application, or failure of the applicant to file an information requisition.
- Notice of Deemed Denial - An application may be denied for reasons of inaction in cases where the Board has not made a determination on an abatement application within 3 months.
The deadline for filing abatement cannot be waived or extended for any reason. If the application is not filed by the due date, you lose all rights to abatement and the assessors, by law, cannot grant you one.