poconnor

If you are a business owner in Texas, you must appeal business personal property tax every year. Business personal property values are reassessed each year in Texas. “Collecting more taxes than is necessary is legalized robbery.” These words of wisdom, spoken by the 13th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, still ring true in today’s society for homeowners and business owners. Robbery may seem like a harsh word, but what would you say if someone tried to sell you one-year-old motel sheets for 90% of the original cost? Based on the appraisal district’s depreciation schedule, this is a fair deal. Most people would not consider this a fair deal and either reject the offer or request a lower price. This should be the same thought process when the appraisal district overassesses your business personal property (BPP). Texas law requires business owners to report BPP, personal property used for the production of income, to the appraisal district for assessment and ta...

DO YOU KNOW WHAT UNEQUAL APPRAISAL IS AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FIGHT FOR FAIR TAXES? *Its ok! We didn’t either at first! 🙂 BACKGROUND OF UNEQUAL APPRAISAL During the 1997 legislative session, major changes were made to the Texas Property Tax Code. One of the reforms was the right to appeal property taxes based on unequal appraisal. Harris County Appraisal District chose to  VIGOROUSLY OPPOSE  this provision of the tax code.  (SHOCKER!) Appealing based on unequal appraisal is  BENEFICIAL  because it allows an owner to reduce the taxes even if the property is assessed for much less than the market value. In the past, appraisal districts wanted a  VERY COMPLICATED  process to hear cases of unequal appraisal which was  EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE  to prepare. The new approach also made judicial appeals financially  feasible  and  effective . WHY AREN’T PROPERTIES ASSESSED EQUALLY TO BEGIN WITH? You may be won...

Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) Is Over-Taxing Flooded Property Owners By 50 To 100%. HCAD is NOT valuing these flooded properties accurately. They are not following mandatory requirements of the Tax Code and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. HCAD and the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) are not considering market evidence in valuing flooded homes, grossly overtaxing Texans at their time of greatest need.  Both HCAD and the ARB are  overtly   ignoring the law.  HCAD appraisers are testifying that the HCAD has not developed an opinion of market value.  Despite evidence from the HCAD appraiser that their valuation does not meet basic requirements, ARB panels are ratifying the HCAD value in a  breath-taking display of raw power and force. The appraisal district and the ARB appear to be  ignoring all evidence at hearings .  In our opinion, it is clear the process is a  sham  after 1 or 2 hearings. The ARB ...