Hall Co. mails about 3,800 revised property tax notices

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Tax Assessors Office mailed 30-day revised property tax notices to approximately 3,800 property owners Wednesday. However, Chief Appraiser Steve Watson said more revised notices are still being processed.<br /> <br /> Watson said roughly 5,100 people appealed their property appraisals this year. He said the 1,300 property owners who were not mailed a revised notice Wednesday either had their appeal resolved during the 45-day appeal period, are being forwarded to the next level of appeal (Board of Equalization) or are still under review. Responses to those still under review will be mailed at a later date, and property owners will have 30 days to appeal further if they so choose.<br /> <br /> Watson said those being forwarded to the Board of Equalization will receive notice from the Tax Assessors Office about the status of their appeal. He said the Hall County Clerk of Courts' Office, which manages the Board of Equalization, will mail instructions to those property owners as to how their appeal will be processed.<br /> <br /> "We've been deliberate in the process to make sure we inspect each property carefully, take everything into consideration and review each property thoroughly," said Watson. <br /> <br /> Watson said he set high expectations for appeal resolutions and productivity this year.<br /> <br /> "In 2012, when we had some 5,200 appeals, we were not able to send responses to appeals until Nov. 4," he said. "We are well ahead of that this year with the roughly 5,100 appeals we had."<br /> <br /> Watson said the goal is to expedite the process as efficiently as possible while giving proper consideration for each appeal. He said his staff is happy to assist property owners who may still have questions regarding their property tax notices. <br /> <br /> As reported earlier this week, the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office will be mailing property tax bills Oct. 1, which will be due Dec. 1. In accordance with state law, a temporary tax bill will be sent to property owners whose appeal has not been resolved at the time tax bills are issued. A list of all properties in appeal has been sent to the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office at the time of tax digest submission. <br /> <br /> According to the Tax Commissioner's Office, the temporary tax bills for those in appeal will be based on last year's value or 85 percent of the current year's value, whichever is less. If a structural improvement has been made on a homestead property, the temporary bill will be based on 85 percent of the current year's value. Once the appeal is resolved, the taxes will be recalculated, and a revised bill will be sent. Adjustments will be made depending on the outcome of the appeal.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/9/279701