In Arizona, property tax appeals are often handled directly by homeowners. To begin the process, you can contact the county assessor’s office to determine the retroactive date when your property taxes were calculated. This is a crucial step because property taxes are typically based on the sales data from the prior year, not current market conditions. As a result, recent sales are not considered in the assessment.
For example, I once assisted a homeowner in appealing their property tax. Their home was a manufactured home in poor condition, yet it was being taxed as though it were a site-built home like those in better condition surrounding it. In this case, the homeowner needed a professional appraisal to demonstrate both the poor condition of the property and the fact that it was not a site-built home. The appraisal provided the necessary evidence to support the tax appeal and correct the assessment.