Making the most of property assessors offices in Louisiana 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.

Louisiana property assessors offices use several factors such as 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 assessor uses to make Louisiana property appraisals. 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 Louisiana property appraiser.
3. Appeal the Louisiana property value if needed. 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 Louisiana property tax records

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 Louisiana Tax Commission provides a FAQ on state property taxes along with links to other property tax resources. Justia.com maintains the laws on property taxes in Louisiana (Article VII Part 2).

Find out how professional appraisers determine Louisiana property values

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: Debra Hebert Appraisal Services describes the appraisal cycle and also offers other resources regarding property appraisals. Barnett Appraisal Services provides a FAQ on property appraisals.

Learn how your county performs a Louisiana 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 Assessor's Office for Caddo Parish provides parish-specific information on property assessments. The Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor has a FAQ on property taxes in that parish.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your assessor to see if you qualify for any exemptions on your Louisiana property tax 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.

The responsibility of a Louisiana property appraiser is to estimate a property's value. This figure will then be used to determine the taxes due on the property. Additionally, property assessors in Louisiana must maintain records of real estate sales and continually reappraise properties to reflect their fair market value.

If you are a small Louisiana business owner interested in property values, you need to contact your parish's assessor of property in Louisiana. You may also find additional services and resources available, including assessors' maps, property ownership and tax information. Louisiana property tax records are open to the public. You may want to view property assessment records for the following reasons:

1. You can confirm the price brackets of Louisiana property values in a certain area where you're interested in buying.

2. Find out how much your property is valued at if you're interested in selling or refinancing.

3. To determine the amount of Louisiana property tax a property incurs, as determined by Louisiana property assessors offices.

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

Take advantage of a Louisiana property assessments office that maintains online databases

Many of the parishes in Louisiana maintain an online presence, and a percentage of those also provide searchable property records for the public. If you're parish's records are available online, you can avoid constant trips to the office every time you need information on a property. If your parish assessor's office does not provide public records online, try other websites. You may have to subscribe for this information; but if real estate is your business, it will be worth the small fee.

I recommend: Louisiana Assessors Association offers a list of Louisiana parish assessors and provides links their websites. Realtor.com offers an interactive map-based property search tool. US Search provides a variety of informational reports that include Louisiana property detail, valuation analysis and area-comparable sales.

Consider the appeals process if you have concerns regarding your Louisiana property value

You may receive a Louisiana property tax assessment you disagree with. When this is the case, you can appeal to your parish's assessment office. If a disagreement still exists, you may further appeal to the Louisiana State Tax Commission.

I recommend: You can find the applicable appeals form at the Louisiana State Tax Commission. Real Estate ABC is an online real estate resource that has free home values & sales comparisons, as well as real estate calculators.

Look for a second Louisiana property assessment, if necessary

Before you appeal the results of your assessment, you may consider getting a second opinion. This is where an independent appraiser comes into the picture. A private appraiser will not only reevaluate your property, but he will also provide you with the necessary paperwork you would need to submit to your assessor's office in the event that you want to pursue an appeal.

I recommend: Cook, Moore & Associates specializes in commercial and industrial real estate appraisal throughout Louisiana. David R. Miles, MAI, SRA is a member of The Appraisal Institute, a global membership association of professional real estate appraisers. For more Louisiana appraisers, try the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are some tax exemptions that apply to certain properties or organizations; non-profits, for instance. Check with your Louisiana property appraiser to see whether your business or organization qualifies for a tax exemption.

Employees who undergo property assessors offices in Louisiana education and training must be able to determine the fair market value of real estate and personal property. Property assessors who work for the government may also use Louisiana property tax records to assess property taxes.

The qualifications necessary to perform Louisiana property assessments primarily depend on the value of the property and manner in which the transaction will be financed. These requirements can be grouped into three general categories:

1. Education. Property assessors in Louisiana usually hold at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in economics, finance or real estate. A property assessor will also need to complete additional coursework that is specific to property appraisal. This specialized education is usually taken from a community college or professional organization for appraisers.

2. Experience. Property appraisers will also need to acquire on the job training under the supervision of a qualified professional appraiser.

3. Licenses and certifications. Appraisers who perform property appraisals are required by federal law to have a license if the transaction will involve a federal loan of $250,000 or more.

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

Complete the courses needed to perform Louisiana property tax assessment

There are a variety of on-site universities and distance learning classes that teach students to assess Louisiana property values. These institutions should update their curriculum frequently to reflect changes in the state's educational requirements for property appraisers.

I recommend: The Burk Baker School of Real Estate & Appraising has been approved by the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board to provide qualifying education for appraisers in Louisiana. Donaldson Educational Services offers approved courses needed to become a Louisiana appraiser.

Get on-the-job training for Louisiana property assessment

Job training for property appraisers in Louisiana has specific requirements, as laid out by the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board. These requirements stipulate the length of time the training must take, the way in which the mentor must monitor the process, and the type of experience the trainee must acquire.

I recommend: The Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board specifies the type of work experience for trainee appraisers. Title 37, Chapters 3391 to 3413 of the Louisiana Revised Statute provides the legislation regarding real estate appraisers, including required work experience.

Obtain a license to perform Louisiana property appraisals

Louisiana recognizes three categories of appraisers. A trainee must work under the direct supervision of a licensed appraiser. A residential certified appraiser can perform appraisals on all residential property non-residential property valued at $250,000 or less. A certified general appraiser can perform appraisals on all types of property.

I recommend: ELicenseSchool summarizes all of the requirements needed to become an appraiser in Louisiana. Title 46, Part 67 of the Louisiana Administrative Code provides the complete requirements for real estate appraisers in Louisiana.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Louisiana property assessors may choose to become a member of a national or regional assessor association. Full membership in a professional organization usually requires significantly more education and experience than the minimum licensing requirements of the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB). Many of these associations also offer a membership category specifically for trainees.

Louisiana 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 Louisiana generally requires licensed appraisers for all appraisals. Louisiana 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 Louisiana property appraiser 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 Louisiana state government. These sources provide laws and other information on Louisiana property assessments that apply to the entire state.
   
2. County and municipal governments in Louisiana. Each jurisdiction has its own procedures for implementing laws on land values in Louisiana.
3. Law firms that practice property law. Law firms in Louisiana 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 Louisiana land assessment

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

I recommend: Louisiana Public Square provides an in-depth discussion of property tax law in Louisiana. The Louisiana State Legislature establishes the assessment of property taxes in Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Study the procedures for accessing Louisiana property appraisals in a particular jurisdiction

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

I recommend: The Acadia Parish Assessor describes the duties of the county assessor as specified in the Louisiana Constitution. The Bossier Parish Assessor provides an overview of the property assessment process in that parish.

Review laws on property assessors in Louisiana from law firms

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

I recommend: Kean Miller practices real estate law in Louisiana and has a post on Louisiana property assessment law. Stubbs Law Firm provides a FAQ on business law, including the assessment of business property in Louisiana.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The quality of Louisiana 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.