In Allegheny County, tax appeal season has begun for 2021. Every year, County property owners have the opportunity to file an assessment appeal, and as always, an appeal may provide an opportunity for a reduction in your taxes. In particular, those whose properties have been impacted by COVID-19, particularly through closures or lost property rentals may wish to consider an appeal this year.
Initially, owners should determine if their property has actually decreased in value. Home sales were strong in 2020 and non-retail business properties, especially in the suburbs showed some stability. But consideration should be made of general value trends outside of COVID, whether over the past several years or suddenly in the last several months. Even without the pandemic, buildings may need renovation. Your home or business property may be in areas that are not “hot spots” relative to the rest of the County. For commercial parcels, increased vacancies or rent reductions caused by market conditions can lessen a parcel’s value. Of course, if your business properties have been hurt because of the pandemic, justification for an assessment decrease may exist if the property produces less income.
Also keep in mind that in Allegheny County, as in every other county in Pennsylvania, assessments are subject to the “common level ratio.” Very roughly speaking, this ratio is like a deflation factor so that owners do not face assessment increases merely because the cost of living has risen.
For 2021 the ratio in Allegheny County is 87.5%. That means that if you have a property that has a fair market value of $100,000, for assessment purposes, the property should be taxed at $87,500. As a result, even if a property has remained the same in value or has undergone marginal value increases over the past few years, taxpayers still may be eligible to achieve an assessment reduction.
Assessment reductions are usually proven through recent sales of comparable properties, or if the parcel produces income, through the property’s income and expense statements. Owners should use common business sense in considering whether to file an appeal. If properties in your area are selling for $1.5 million and your assessment is $1 million, careful consideration should be made before filing an assessment appeal.
The officials hearing your tax appeal at the Board of Property Assessment (the first stage of the assessment process in Allegheny County), or at the Board of Viewers (the second stage) are very knowledgeable about local real estate. But if sound reasons exist, opportunities should be pursued and retention of legal counsel knowledgeable about Allegheny County tax appeal law and practice should be considered. The appeal deadline is March 31, 2021.
For further information contact Tucker Arensberg attorneys John Vogel at (412) 594-5622, Gavin Robb at (412) 594-5654, Katie Janocsko (412) 594-5564, or Chris Voltz at (412) 594-5580.
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