Making the most of property assessors offices in Arizona will require the office to assess the market value of a property. This value is then multiplied by the tax rate to determine the actual tax that the owner must pay on the property each year. Property tax rates may be set by organizations such as cities, counties or school districts.

Arizona property assessors offices use factors like location and size to determine the value of a property. This assessment is usually accurate and requires a property value appeal only on rare occasions. There are three things you need to do when evaluating the property value as determined by the assessor’s office:

1. Obtain the information the Arizona property tax assessor uses to make the assessment. You should already know the size and location of the property, but the assessor also will be able to provide the value of other properties in your area.
2. Get a professional appraisal so you may compare it to the property value by the AZ property assessors.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. Arizona assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn more about the laws regarding Arizona property assessments

Each state has laws that provide guidelines on the way that property values are assessed. There also may be laws that specify what property tax information is publicly available.

I recommend: The Arizona Department of Revenue provides official tax assessment guidelines for Arizona and various other related resources. Gallagher & Kennedy offers a summary of the most recent property tax legislation.

Find out how professional appraisers determine an Arizona property value

Appraisers may use different methods to estimate the value of your property. You will want to ensure the professional appraiser considers the same factors as the property assessor.

I recommend: Michael Wright Real Estate Appraiser outlines the appraisal process and also offers a sample appraisal. Golden Peak Appraisals discusses what an appraisal is and how it is performed.

Learn how your county performs an Arizona property assessment

Many counties have online resources available to help you with your property tax assessment. You should be able to locate this information on your county's website, in addition to other information regarding property taxes.

I recommend: The Maricopa County Assessor provides questions and answers on property taxes and property appraisals. The Navajo County Assessor describes the process for appealing a property tax valuation in Navajo County.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your Arizona property assessor to see if you qualify for any exemptions on your property assessment. Exemptions may be recognized for disabled veterans, senior citizens or non-profit organizations. File any appeals to your current tax assessment before the tax deadline. It will be more difficult to obtain a favorable ruling on an appeal after the deadline.

Arizona property assessors have a number of responsibilities to the county they serve. Arizona property assessors offices track ownership changes, maintain up-to-date maps of property lines and keep detailed property descriptions. Arizona assessors also analyze trends in property sales prices, construction costs and the average expense for renting property.

AZ property assessors can directly affect your bottom line via their assessment. Arizona land value, which property assessors in Arizona base upon a number of factors, determines how much your business pays in property taxes each year for the buildings and land you own. Arizona assessors consider the following when assessing property:

1. Property assessors in Arizona compare the sales prices for commercial properties in area.

2. AZ property assessors determine what the cost would be to replace and rebuild.

3. Arizona assessors calculate how much income the commercial property would bring in if rented.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Access property information through the Arizona assessors office

It's important that you research a property's history before making an investment. You need to know how many times there were changes in ownership, any construction done on the property, and changes in Arizona land values over the years. Be sure to compare the assessed value of other properties in the area as well.

I recommend: Visit the Pima County, Arizona Assessor's Office website for detailed information and records of commercial properties. For a full list of Arizona tax assessor offices go to Assessor Links USA. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Revenue has manuals regarding Arizona property assessment available for purchase.

Know your rights under Arizona property assessment regulations

Knowledge of the laws and regulations that go into property assessment in Arizona will help you to understand the calculation of the property tax you pay each year and where that money goes. Additionally, there are a number of tax exemptions that can lower your Arizona property tax dues, providing you meet the eligibility requirements.

I recommend: If you intend to appeal the property value determined by your assessor, purchase the Assessment Procedures Manual provided by the Arizona Department of Revenue for details on the property valuation appeal process. For more information on the licensing and certification requirements for Arizona appraisers, visit Title 32, Chapter 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

Check the accuracy of your MA property assessment

It's possible that local Arizona property assessors offices can make mistakes and arrive at inaccurate property values. If you have concern that the assessed value of your property is inaccurate, hire an appraiser to provide a second opinion. If there is a discrepancy, the appraisal provides proof of a more accurate Arizona property value, and you can file an appeal with your local property assessors offices in Arizona.

I recommend: Check AppraiserUSA.com for a full list Arizona real estate appraisers. The Arizona Board of Appraisal provides a directory of appraisers by county that are in good standing and have met the certification requirements.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always pay your the tax based on your Arizona property assessment by the deadline to avoid penalties. Doing so also helps the credit score for your business.

Arizona assessors, or appraisers, are licensed experts who assess the fair market value of real property in order to determine the local property taxes the owners pay each year based upon the applicable formula for the state of Arizona and county of residence. Typically an individual assessor specializes in assessing the value of either residential or commercial property. Those working in the state assessors' offices evaluate properties based upon other buildings in that area and keep relevant public records.

While on-the-job training is usually available, state and federal regulations are in place for someone to become an Arizona property tax assessor. There are a number of ways to obtain the necessary property assessors offices –- Arizona education and training. Some of these education strategies include:

1. A bachelor’s degree is a requirement when applying for an AZ property assessor’s license.

2. Seminars and other events will teach you techniques for Arizona property assessment.

3. Study for the exams you must pass to earn your AZ property assessment license.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain a bachelor's degree before applying for AZ property assessors job openings

While there is no degree specific to property appraisals or assessments, as of 2008 the federal government requires all individuals applying for an appraiser or assessor license to have a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent of such in credit hours). Typically, a related field of study such as economics, finance or real estate is an appropriate major.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for training and qualification requirements for most assessors and appraisers. The W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University offers a program to obtain an MBA in Real Estate. Get a Bachelor of Science in Business/Finance from the University of Phoenix.

Attend events that help your put your Arizona property assessment into practice

Local training seminars, workshops and conferences can provide the information and techniques you need to continue to produce accurate and concise assessments of property values. Some Arizona property assessor's offices require their employees to attend training or seminars throughout their employment. It is also a great way to pad your resume when searching out a new assessor job.

I recommend: Attend seminars in Arizona offered by the Appraisal Institute. The Arizona Board of Appraisal provides a list of approved qualifying and continuing education courses for appraisers and assessors.

Acquire the necessary licensing and certification for assessors in Arizona

It is a requirement for all states that their licensing and certification requirements for assessors and appraisers conform to those requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board. Typically, the requirements to obtain an assessor's license include specific training classes, on-the-job training and the passing of specified exams.

I recommend: The Arizona School of Real Estate and Business lists the three types of appraisal licenses/certificates and the requirements to obtain each. Part of the Arizona appraiser and assessor licensing requirements is that applicants complete a National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination offered by The Appraisal Foundation.

Arizona property assessors offices laws and regulations deal with the property taxes that derive from the estimated value of real property. Property assessors in the United States routinely assess property according to the fair market standard, although there are other standards, such as the distressed value and the foreclosure value. All federally regulated institutions must perform property appraisals with a licensed appraiser and Arizona generally requires licensed appraisers for all appraisals. Arizona property laws also specify the conditions under which a property owner may qualify for a homestead exemption or other property tax exemption.

You can find Arizona property assessor laws in a variety of locations. These sources may be classified according to the types of laws they cover and include the three following categories:

1. The Arizona state government. These sources provide laws and other information on AZ property assessors that apply to the entire state.
2. County and municipal governments in Arizona. Each jurisdiction has its own procedures for implementing laws on property assessments.
3. Law firms that practice property law. Law firms in Arizona frequently offer information for resolving disputes on property taxes.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the laws that control Arizona property assessments

The state government of Arizona will have specific laws for property tax assessors. Private organizations also provide summaries and general information on property tax assessor laws in Arizona.

I recommend: The Arizona State Legislature specifies the assessors duties regarding property assessment in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Commerce provides details on the property tax reduction program in Arizona for certain types of businesses.

Study the procedures for accessing Arizona property assessments in a particular jurisdiction

Local governments have specific procedures for property assessments and also may offer an Arizona property tax search. A complete list of Arizona property tax records may also be available.

I recommend: The Maricopa County Assessor provides an overview of the regulations for assessing property in that county. The Navajo County Assessor Office describes the procedures for filing a property assessment appeal.

Review laws on property assessors in Arizona from law firms

Arizona lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on property assessments and property taxes in Arizona. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Arizona.

I recommend: Paul B. Bartlett provides an article on property tax exemptions for senior citizens in Arizona. KEYTlaw provides extensive resources on property assessment laws in Arizona, such as a listing of statutes on property tax exemptions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The quality of Arizona property assessment is controlled by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). It was developed in the 1980s in response to the savings and loan crisis that was occurring in the United States at that time. The Appraiser Foundation (TAF) is the current administrator of the USPAP.