Making the Most of Property Assessors Offices - Colorado

Save on taxes with a Colorado property assessor

Making the most of property assessors offices in Colorado 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.

Colorado 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 Colorado property tax assessors office 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 Colorado assessors office.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. Colorado assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.
   

Learn more about the laws regarding Colorado 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.
Colorado Division of Property Taxation has extensive resources on laws regarding property taxes in Colorado. Michie's Legal Resources displays Title 39 of the Colorado Revised Statutes which covers property taxes.

Find out how professional appraisers determine a Colorado property assessment

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.
Benjamin Appraisal Service describes the appraisal cycle and also offers other resources regarding property appraisals. The Independent Appraisal Group describes the appraisal cycle and also offers other resources regarding property appraisals.

Learn how your county performs a Colorado 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.
Douglas County Assessor summarizes the assessment process and also provides resources for understanding property taxes. The Mesa County Assessor provides a FAQ on real property valuation.

• Check with your property tax 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 Colorado property taxes before the tax deadline. It will be more difficult to obtain a favorable ruling on an appeal after the deadline.

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