Real Estate Assessment Appeal
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To discuss your assessment with DTA staff, please call 703-222-8234,
[TTY 703-222-7594]; or if you simply need assessment information, you
may call the Automated Information System at 703-222-6740. If you
prefer send an inquiry by email.
Staff will reply within five business days of your message.
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Download the
Residential/Commercial Appeal Application Form.
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The process for filing an appeal is relatively simple. It is important
to include the basis for your appeal and the information that you
believe, if considered by DTA, may change your assessed value. For
residential properties, you should provide sales information that
demonstrates the assessment is not at its fair market value; or
comparable properties that are assessed at a value that is not similar.
Simply saying the increase in value is too much in a single year
is NOT a basis for appeal; however, DTA will gladly discuss your
assessment and how it was derived. In most cases, receipt of an appeal
is acknowledged in writing. In all cases, the decision by DTA on an
appeal is communicated to the property owner or their agent in
writing.
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For commercial or income producing properties, it is important that the
appropriate income and expense survey form has been filed with our
office. If you need assistance or are not sure whether we have received
your income information, please call 703-222-8234, [TTY 703-222-7594;
Español 703-324-3855] or simply send an email
and we will be happy to check your records. If an agent is filing an
appeal on your behalf, DTA requires a signed and notarized letter of
authorization from the property owner stating the relationship of the
agent to the property owner and granting the agent the authority to
represent the property owner. The original letter of authorization must
be on file before any official information is provided to your
agent.
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Steps in the Appeal Process:
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Discuss your assessment with DTA staff appraisers. DTA encourages
property owners to utilize staff in understanding the assessment
and to further document their appeal should they wish to continue.
In addition, sales and
detailed property information is available on our
website.
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DTA appraisal staff contacts the property owner to schedule a field
inspection of the property. Appraisers will thoroughly inspect and
re-measure the property, if required. It is important to note that,
while DTA maintains a physical description of all real property in
the county and our data base is updated from field inspections on
new construction, it is our policy to require staff to verify the
field information when appeals are initiated.
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DTA appraisers consider the information obtained during the
physical inspection, and then review the available market sales
information to reappraise the property. The analysis and value
determination is reviewed by a Supervising Appraiser, who forwards
his or her recommendation to the Real Estate Division Assistant
Director. The original assessed value may be either affirmed,
increased, or decreased based upon the analysis.
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The property owner is advised of the determination by letter and
given information regarding further right of appeal.
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Appeals may also be submitted to the Board of Equalization of Real Estate
Assessments (BOE). The BOE filing deadline is June 3rd.
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