Making the Most of Property Assessors Offices - Louisiana

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

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.

• 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.