What to do if you appealed your property-tax bill
A lot changed this year with Philly's property-tax system, but we have your back.
IF YOU'RE a Philly homeowner who contested the city's valuation of your property this year, listen up. A lot has changed with how the city handles property-tax appeals, and it's led to some confusion. Here's a People Paper Q&A to sort it out:
Q: Why did my property get reassessed in the first place?
A: The Actual Value Initiative, a property-tax-reform effort led by Mayor Nutter, began this year, and the administration reassessed all 579,000 taxable properties.
Q: What happened to my appeal of the new assessment?
A: Property owners had two ways to question their new assessments: request an informal "first-level review" from the Office of Property Assessment, or file a formal appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes. Owners could choose one or both of those processes. Where you stand now depends on which agency you chose.
Q: What if I filed an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes?
A: The board will begin adjudicating its 23,400 cases this month. Thanks to a new law, you can pay the same amount as last year while your case is pending.
Q: If I only filed a "first-level review," can I just pay last year's taxes?
A: No. If you asked for a "first-level review" from the Office of Property Assessment and you did not appeal to the board, it's a little trickier. Adjudicating the reviews took longer than expected, and some are still being processed.
If OPA has processed your review and did not change the assessment, pay the amount on your tax bill. If they changed your assessment and sent you a new tax bill, pay the new bill.
Q: I have not heard back from the OPA. Should I just pay the amount on my tax bill?
A: Not yet. Chief Assessment Officer Richie McKeithen said yesterday that he expects all OPA reviews to be processed before taxes are due at the end of March. So you may end up with a lower tax bill.
But if you want to play it safe, go ahead and pay your taxes now. Nutter spokesman Mark McDonald said the city will send partial refunds to those who overpaid because their assessments were lowered.
Q: The OPA told me they were changing my assessment, but I haven't received a new tax bill. What's the deal?
A: Hold on tight. There is delay between the OPA review process and the Revenue Department getting the memo. McKeithen said you'll have a new tax bill before the payment deadline.