Guide: How to Appeal Property Assessment in Philadelphia

September 11, 2023

How to Appeal Your 2024 Philadelphia Property Tax Assessment

As real estate attorneys with 20+ years of experience in Philadelphia commercial property law, we know that inaccurate property taxes can be detrimental to property owners and real estate investors. When the city’s Office of Property Assessment (OPA) issues a new tax assessment, it can sometimes result in elevated taxes that do not accurately reflect the value of your property. But the good news is, you can challenge this by filing an appeal with the city of Philadelphia’s Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT). Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this process.

Understanding the Property Tax Assessment Appeal

The tax assessment appeal is an opportunity to challenge the city’s valuation of your property. If successful, you can get your property’s tax assessment reevaluated, potentially leading to a reduction in your property taxes.

Why You Might Need to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment

The city of Philadelphia conducts county-wide tax reassessment every few years to determine property values. However, these assessments may not always accurately reflect the real market value of your property. This could be due to outdated data, inaccurate property details, or a flawed appraisal process. In such cases, the taxes levied based on these assessments could be unjustly high.

When is the deadline to appeal a 2024 Philadelphia Property Assessment?

The deadline for property tax assessment appeals is 10/2/2023, and it is not such a simple process, so you should not waste any time.

Risks Involved in the Appeal Process

While appealing your property tax assessment may seem like a surefire way to reduce your property taxes, it’s essential to understand the risks involved because it is a complicated appeal process that is easy to get wrong. Providing additional information to the OPA could potentially result in an even higher assessment of your property’s value. As experienced real estate attorneys, we can help you weigh these risks before deciding to file an appeal. You can contact us here or call (215)-717-2200 for a consultation.

Initiating a Philadelphia Property Tax Assessment Appeal

Once you’ve decided to start the appeal process, you need to gather all the necessary documents. These may include forms sent by the OPA with your updated property tax assessment, or new ones requested from OPA.

Key Documents for the Appeal

Preparation is key when it comes to filing an appeal. You will need the following documents:

Forms from the OPA: These are usually sent with your updated property tax assessment. If you didn’t receive them, you can request new ones from the OPA.
Property Documents: These will help the city to accurately assess the value of your property. Examples include recent photos of your property, recent sales data of comparable properties in your neighborhood, and an appraisal report (for properties assessed over $1 million).

Understanding the Different Processes for Different Properties

The Philadelphia OPA assesses properties differently based on their usage. For instance, the assessment process for a residential property that you occupy will differ from that of a commercial or investment property. As a real estate attorney, we can guide you on the appropriate process based on your property’s usage.

Timeliness is Essential

To prevent changes in your property taxes for the coming year, be sure to submit your appeal by the first Monday in October. Remember, if you wait until after this date, your new property tax assessment will go into effect in the new year.

Our Role in Your Property Tax Assessment Appeal

As a commercial real estate and property law firm, we specialize in Philadelphia property tax assessment appeals. Our team of lawyers have an award-winning track record of success in helping our clients handle the appeal process. We make the process simple and straightforward, ensuring that you only pay fair taxes on your property.

Our Promise

Our promise to you is to provide you with transparency and only our best real estate legal advice and guidance throughout the entire appeal process. We’re committed to helping you ensure that you only pay a fair amount in property taxes. Whether you’re appealing for your own home or an investment property, we’re here to help make the process simple and straightforward.

Contacting a Commercial Real Estate Attorney

RS Law Group has assisted numerous Philadelphia commercial real estate investors and developers. With years of experience and knowledge, we look out for you and your investments. Contact us now at 215-717-2200 or email us at contact@rslawgroup.com for a free consultation.