How to Appeal Your Real Estate Taxes

Over the past few years, home values have been declining and many homeowners are appealing their real estate assessment, saving them hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. If you feel that you are paying too much in real estate taxes, now is the time to make an appeal. 

How do I know if my home has a fair tax assessment?
To verify whether your home's assessed market value is greater than it should be for the current market, multiply your home’s assessed value by the county-specific ratio:
            Montgomery County– 1.85
            Bucks County–           10.31
            Chester County–         1.89
            Delaware County–      1.63
            Berks County–           1.48
            Philadelphia County–  3.06
For example, if a home is assessed at $200,000 in Montgomery County, multiply by $200,000 by 1.85 to get an assessed market value of $370,000.

Are similar homes in your area selling for this amount or less? If the sale price of comparable homes in your area are significantly lower than the assessed market value of your home, you are probably being overcharged with taxes and may want to consider filing an appeal.

How do I appeal my tax assessment?
Once a year you may make an appeal by filling out a tax assessment appeal form.
The deadlines for the surrounding counties are:
            Montgomery County–   September 1st
            Bucks County–             August 2nd
            Chester County–          August 1st
            Delaware County–       August 1st
            Philadelphia County–   October 1st

The county will then set a hearing date that will grant you the opportunity to present evidence that your home’s assessed value is too high. To make a strong case, it is recommended that you provide data with the recent sale prices of similar homes in
your area. Pictures are also very helpful.

What if I need additional information?
If you have any questions about the process or need additional information, please visit your county’s website by clicking on the links below.

Montgomery County 
Bucks County 
Chester County 
Delaware County
Philadelphia County