Departments

Finance

Board of Assessment

The Appeal Process - For Residential Property Owners

The law presumes the assessment of record to be correct until proven otherwise. When appealing the current assessment the burden of proof, by statute, shifts to the property owner to provide conclusive documented evidence of the current market value contrary to that determined by the Assessment Office.

Evidence of Market Value
If you have purchased the property within the last 18 months, submit a copy of your settlement sheet with the completed appeal form. Transactions older than 18 months may not be representative of the current market value.

An appraisal report prepared within the last 18 months by an individual qualified under Pennsylvania Statute to prepare such appraisals. A copy of the appraisal should be submitted with the completed appeal form.

Check sales within the last 18 months of similar properties in your neighborhood. SIMILAR refers to style, location, value, quality of construction, physical characteristics and market area. Spaces are provided on the appeal form to list similar properties. Photos of your property and those listed on the form would be helpful to the Board in its determination.

Market value analysis reports prepared by real estate offices will not be accepted as sufficient evidence of market value.

Property Assessment Appeal Form