Purchasing Resources for Property Assessors Offices - Arizona

Making the Most of Property Assessors Offices - Arizona

Save on taxes with property assessors in Arizona
By Emmet McMahan 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.

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.

• 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.

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