Making the most of property assessors offices in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee 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 TN property assessors use 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 property assessor for Tennessee.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. Tennessee assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.

Action Steps
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Learn more about the laws regarding Tennessee 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 Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury provides information on state laws regarding property assessment, including the tax freeze program. The Tennessee County Trustee's Association has a FAQ on property taxes including the appeals process.

Find out how professional appraisers determine a Tennessee 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: Stephenson & Associates summarizes its appraisal process and also provides a sample appraisal. The Caldwell Group describes an appraisal and addresses some misconceptions about appraisals.

Learn how your county performs a Tennessee 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 Shelby County Assessor of Property provides the specific procedure for calculating appraisal values in Shelby County. The Blount County Property Assessor defines the duties of the Property Assessor and also lists important information regarding property appraisals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your Tennessee 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.

Tennessee assessors help business owners get the right tax appraisals for their business property. Tennessee property assessment means fair and reasonable taxes on any type of personal or business property.

A Tennessee property assessor makes documentation available to both mortgage companies and tax departments for appropriate tax levees against property values. When property values rise or fall, a thorough assessment means freeing up cash for expansion or a decrease in your tax bill.

Tennessee property assessors receive certification from the state of Tennessee, so working with qualified and certified property assessors is important for accurate and fair reporting. Tennessee property assessors' offices work with only the best in the areas of property valuation.

Most Tennessee property assessment happens yearly for tax purposes. Tennessee land value, like most states, changes some each year, so it’s important to know your rights to fair assessment through property assessors in Tennessee. Tennessee property assessments will:

1. Give accurate property valuations for Tennessee property value.

2. Provide assessment for use in determining summer and winter taxes.

3. Offer opportunities for property improvements due to increased TN property assessment.

4. Give leads on investment properties in revitalization areas.

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Work with TN property assessors certified through the State of Tennessee Assessors Board

The State of Tennessee Assessors Board has a training program available that leads to certification in property assessment. Using a certified property assessor guarantees high standards and accuracy.

I recommend: Visit the US Department of Labor website for information about the property assessor’s certification process. Check out the Tennessee Real Estate Education System, Inc. for certification requirements in the state of Tennessee.

Pull Tennessee property tax records for real estate comparisons and taxation rates

Public property records help property owners determine if their rate of property tax is fair and reasonable compared to that of their neighbors or other business owners. Property tax records are available through the tax assessor's office in your city.

I recommend: Visit the State of Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury website for information on obtaining or viewing public property tax documents for your community. Skipease gives access to public tax documents for every state.

Use Tennessee property tax records for insight into changes in current market trends

When property values are down, it may be time to expand your holdings. As a business owner, it's important to think about expansion when assessments say you'll get more for your money.

I recommend: Realestateabc.com and Electronic Appraiser help property owners determine the value of their property and make comparisons to others in their area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Request a detailed copy of your Tennessee property assessment each year. If you feel your report is inaccurate or unfair in any way, file an appeal with the State of Tennessee Assessors Board.
• •  File any appeals to your current property taxes before your tax deadline. Once the deadline is past, it's not as easy to get a favorable ruling on an appeal.

Property assessors offices in Tennessee education and training will teach you how to appraise personal and real and personal property in order to estimate its fair market value. Property assessors may also assess property for the purpose of setting property taxes in accordance with a prescribed schedule.

The requirements needed to become a Tennessee property tax assessor are complex and vary by the type and value of the property being appraised. Generally, these requirements may be grouped in the following categories:

1. Education. While there are no formal degree requirements for a state of Tennessee property assessor, most practicing assessors have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in economics, finance or real estate. However, the specific courses that a property assessor needs are usually taken at a community college or professional assessor organization.

2. On-the-job training. This is required to obtain a Tennessee assessors license or certification and should be acquired in the office of an independent fee appraiser, if possible.

3. Licensure. Federal law requires that TN property assessors have a state-issued license if they will be involved in transactions requiring a federal loan of $250,000 or more.

Action Steps
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Complete the courses needed to be a TN property tax assessor

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

I recommend: Southwest Tennessee Community College offers courses that are approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission. The Appraisal Academy provides courses that meet the continuing education requirements for appraisers in Tennessee.

Get on-the-job training for Tennessee property assessment

Job training for property appraisers in Tennessee has specific requirements, as laid out by the Tennessee 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 Tennessee Real Estate Appraisers Commission provides a summary of the requirements for all levels of appraisers, including work experience. The Tennessee Department of State has the Rules of the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission, including those regarding the evaluation of appraiser experience.

Become a licensed property assessor for Tennessee

Tennessee recognizes three categories of appraisers. A State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser can appraise noncomplex residential units of up to $1,000,000. A State Certified Residential Appraiser can appraise all types of residential property and other types of property valued at less than $250,000. A State Certified General Appraiser can appraise all types of real property.

I recommend: The Tennessee Real Estate Educational System provides the licensing requirements for appraisers in Tennessee. America's Real Estate Academy lists the courses that must be completed in order to sit the licensing exam for appraisers in Tennessee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Tennessee property assessors must meet the minimum certification and licensing requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation. However, many states have more stringent licensing requirements than those required by the AQB. For example, a state may require an appraisal license for all appraisers regardless of the transaction value of the property.

Tennessee property assessors offices laws and regulations deal with property taxes that are based on the estimated value of real property. The fair market value is the most common standard of value used in Tennessee, although there are other standards, such as the foreclosure value or distressed sale value. A property tax exemption is applied by reducing a property's assessed value by a specified amount before calculating the property tax.

There are a variety of information sources regarding the laws on property assessors in TN. These sources include the three following categories:

1. The Tennessee state government. These sources offer official information, including state laws that deal with property assessors in Tennessee.
2. County and municipal governments in Tennessee. These sources provide the rules and procedures for a specific property assessors office in Tennessee.
3. Tennessee law firms that include property law as one of their areas of practice. These firms may provide information on specific issues of property tax laws in Tennessee.
   

Action Steps
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Examine the laws that control Tennessee property assessor offices

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

I recommend: The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury provides an overview of the property tax laws in Tennessee. Michie's Legal Resources provides Title 67, Chapter 5 of the Tennessee Code, which specifies the laws regarding property taxes in Tennessee.

Study the procedures for conducting Tennessee property assessment in a particular jurisdiction

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

I recommend: The Knox County Property Assessor provides the legislative requirements for property appraisals in Tennessee. The Assessor of Property for Shelby County describes the property tax freeze that is currently in effect in Tennessee.

Review Tennessee property assessors laws from law firms in Tennessee

Tennessee lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on the property taxes that are assessed in Tennessee. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Tennessee.

I recommend: Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz practices real estate law and provides an article on proposed changes in Tennessee's tax laws. Paul Billings Law specializes in property assessment law and lists specific information that should be submitted for a property assessment appeal in Tennessee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many laws on a Tennessee property tax assessor are the result of the Financial Institutions Reform and Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The savings and loan crisis of the late 80s resulted in the passage of the FIRREA in 1989, which required the adoption of property appraisal standards in the United States.