Don’t be surprised if the assessor’s office doesn’t welcome you with open arms when you file an appeal this year. Times are tough all around and taxing jurisdictions are no exception. Sales and income tax revenues are down and everyone knows that property taxes are in for a beating. When exactly the beating will take place seems to be a point of contention. If the volume of appeals being filed is any indication, taxpayers are claiming that the decline in values should be recognized now. Whereas, it appears as though assessor’s offices are claiming that value declines have not yet been reflected in the market. In other words, they seem to be taking the position that taxpayers will need to prove a decline in value. I discussed this issue in my earlier post Quantification Is King. 

So, what can we expect for 2009 appeals? 

• Due to assessor’s offices throughout the country receiving appeals near or at record numbers, large backlogs will be the norm. 
• Taxing jurisdictions may be reluctant or unwilling to settle cases due to budgetary concerns or time constraints.
• Assessor’s offices will, most likely, rely on the fact that a taxpayer carries the burden of proof in an appeal and proving values may be difficult due to the lack of recent transactions. 

For these and other reasons diligence and creativity will, no doubt, prove to play a very important role in 2009 property tax appeals.