Property Assessors Offices - Arkansas Laws and Regulations

Learn about the laws and regulations governing property assessors offices in Arkansas
By Emmet McMahan Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas property values. These sources include the three following categories:

1. The Arkansas state government. These sources offer official information, including state laws that deal with property assessors in Arkansas.
2. County and municipal governments in Arkansas. These sources provide the rules and procedures for a specific property assessors office in Arkansas.
3. Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
   

Examine the laws that control assessors of property values in Arkansas

The state government of Arkansas will have specific laws for property tax assessors. Private organizations also provide summaries and general information on property tax assessor laws in Arkansas.
Try: The Arkansas Assessment Coordination Department provides the goals of The Arkansas Property Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which addresses property assessment in Arkansas. The Arkansas General Assembly provides the assessment of property taxes in Title 26, Subtitle 3, Chapter 26, Subchapter 11 of the Arkansas Code.

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

Local governments have specific procedures for property assessments and also may offer an Arkansas property tax search. A complete list of Arkansas property tax records may also be available.
Try: The Sebastian County Assessor Office summarizes the legislative duties of assessors under Arkansas law. The Craighead County Assessor's Office provides the legal requirements of the assessors office in Arkansas.

Review Arkansas property assessors laws from law firms in Arkansas

Arkansas lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on the property taxes that are assessed in Arkansas. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Arkansas.
Try: Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow provides articles on property tax law in Arkansas such as An Overview of Arkansas Tax Increment Financing District Law. Gill, Elrod, Ragon, Owen & Sherman publishes documents on property tax law in Arkansas, such as Six Laws of Keeping What You Got.

• Many laws on Arkansas property assessments 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.