We received a question today that was posted to our Ask PAB! page. The question was a simple one but very important if you are considering to appeal your tax assessment.
“How strict are the deadlines for county tax assessment appeals?”
Simply put, they are very important. If you miss the filing deadline you miss your opportunity to reduce your assessment for another year. No excuses, no second chances. In fact, not filing on time could cost a property owner thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes.
The deadlines for the counties in the Philadelphia region are as follows:
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Berks County, August 15, 2011
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Bucks County, August 1, 2011
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Chester County, August 1, 2011
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Delaware County, August 1, 2011
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Lehigh County, August 1, 2011
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Montgomery County, September 1, 2011
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Philadelphia County, October 6, 2011
If you are filing an appeal this year, we strongly recommend filing in person at the county assessor’s office. When delivering your documents be sure to request a receipt from the clerk. This creates a paper trail that shows when you filed and who took receipt of your documents. If you are mailing your documents send them certified mail, so that there is a record of them being received. The counties receive thousands of appeals each year and sometimes things fall through the cracks.
When filing be prepared to pay any necessary filing fees. The fees will vary from county to county. For any fees that pertain to your specific county we recommend visiting the Assessor’s website or calling their office.
You should also note that if the filing deadline falls on a weekend the assessor’s office may move the deadline to the following business day. Again, this is something you should verify with your county’s assessor’s office.
The appeal filing must be completed with appropriate documentation and fees no later than the end of business on the deadline date. However, that does’t mean that you can’t file days or weeks prior to the deadline.
If you have any questions about tax assessment appeals please contact our office. We will be glad to assist you.
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