Appealing Your Property Tax Tab

Many residents owning real estate in Summit and Wasatch counties were hit with significant sticker shock this summer when their tax notices arrived in the mail. As reported by The Park Record in its Aug. 2, 2023, edition, all property types throughout Summit County increased by 68%, or 47% when six “outliers” were removed, with primary home values increasing by 29%, second home values increasing by 38% and commercial properties increasing by 67%. In Wasatch County, property values have increased by 37% overall, according to an Aug. 14, 2023, KPCW report.

To help residents in Summit County better understand their valuation, the Assessor’s Office rolled out an interactive web platform that provides taxpayers with a resource to examine the equity of their tax assessment by providing items such as market values, taxable values, year built and square footage for single family, condominium and commercial properties. It also shows the percentage change from last year’s property valuation and contact information for appraisers in each area. Wasatch County also released an online map tool to help property owners determine if their assessment is equitable.

Property owners who believe their assessed value is inaccurate can file an appeal with the Assessor’s Office by Sept. 15, and we can provide a referral to a local appraiser to help determine whether the assessed value is fair. Please reach out to us directly for this contact info, as we have found it to be the best way to go about getting a successful appeal outcome. If you’ve recently purchased your property and have a current appraisal that falls well below the county’s version, the professional appraisal provided at the time of your transaction could be considered valid.

There are a few things to consider when it comes to deciding whether to appeal:

Primary Residence Exemption

Make sure a property utilized as a primary residence is categorized as such, and this information is stated on the property tax notice. Primary residences are taxed at 55% of their assessed value, and even rental properties can be categorized as such as long as someone is living in there year-round. While applications are due on May 1 for the primary residence exemption, the county’s board of equalization will consider exemption status appeals from Aug. 1 – Sept. 15. Information and forms for the primary residence exemption for Summit County are located here and for Wasatch County here. Depending on the value of the property, changing from a secondary to a primary residence could shave thousands of dollars off a tax bill.

Property Description:

Check to make sure the number of rooms, bathrooms, and square footage and accurate. These types of errors can be corrected by a reappraisal of the property, or you could submit architectural drawings to the assessor’s office. If you don’t personally provide the most accurate information possible, the office won’t have the data necessary to make a fully informed assessment.

Prepare Your Appeal

You must file your appeal within 45 days of receiving your property tax notice. For Summit County, this can be accomplished by downloading this Board of Equalization Appeal Form and either emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to Summit County BOE, PO Box 128, Coalville, UT 84017. For Wasatch County, use this online Board of Equalization Appeal Form.

Remember to include a copy of your property tax notice, along with any evidence, such as an appraisal, sales comparable to your property or MLS – Multiple Listing Services – data to support your appeal.

Decisions depend on the availability and workload of Board of Equalization Appeal Officers and could take several weeks. Once a decision is reached, you can expect to receive a “Notice of Determination.” If your appeal is denied, you cannot appeal your final property tax bill when it is received in November.

To contact the Summit County Assessor’s Office, call 435-336-3253, or visit them at the county courthouse in Coalville, at 60 North Main Street. The Assessor can be emailed at [email protected]. For Wasatch County, call 435-654-3221, or email [email protected].

Again, reach out to us if you have any questions or would like a referral to a qualified local appraiser, but keep the Sept. 15 deadline in mind! While we are all responsible for supporting the amazing services we receive as residents of our county, it’s also important to ensure the amount of that support is equitable.

To learn more about the many reasons people Choose Park City as their primary or vacation location, connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.