Property Tax Experts
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For taxpayers who
may be
experiencing
difficulty in paying
their property taxes,
there may be help.
Most cities in the
United States have
Property Tax
Poverty Exemption
Policy and
Guidelines. You may
be eligible to waive
your annual property
tax for one year
read more
may be
experiencing
difficulty in paying
their property taxes,
there may be help.
Most cities in the
United States have
Property Tax
Poverty Exemption
Policy and
Guidelines. You may
be eligible to waive
your annual property
tax for one year
read more
During a period of 15 days between August 1st and September 15th, the assessment
lists of each parish are open for public inspection. The assessor will publish in the
local newspaper which two weeks apply to his/her office. During this period, taxpayers
should check the values on their property, and discuss this with the assessor. If there
is a disagreement, and the taxpayer wishes to protest the value, the taxpayer must at
that time fill out a form “Notice of Appeal Request For Board of Review” (Form 3101),
and schedule an appearance before the parish Board of Review for hearing(s) held
for this purpose. The date(s) of hearing(s) of the Board of Review in your parish will
also be published by the assessor in the local newspaper.
The Board of Review office in your parish will determine if any changes should be
made to the assessment values in question. If either the assessor or the taxpayer is
not satisfied with the determination of the Board of Review, either may obtain from the
Board, an Appeal Form (Form 3103.A) for further review by the Louisiana Tax
Commission. The Louisiana Tax Commission will consider any and all appeals
timely filed in hearings that are open to the public.
Those considering appeals are encouraged to consult the assessor, parish board of
review and the Louisiana Tax Commission for specific procedures, dates, times, and
places of all hearings.
When Should I Discuss My Assessment with the Assessor’s Office?
Each year during August 1st through September 15th the assessment rolls are open
for public inspection and for discussion of the assessment with the assessor’s office.
This is the time to discuss your assessment. It also is the time that a taxpayer can
legally file a protest to the assessment if a settlement with the assessor cannot be
reached. Many taxpayers wait until the tax bills are sent each year to discuss their
assessment. The assessor will discuss your assessment at that time but a property
owner cannot legally file a protest at that time
When Should I File A Homestead Exemption Application?
In order to qualify for homestead exemption, one must own and occupy the house as
his/her primary residence. Regardless of how many houses are owned, no one is
entitled to more than one homestead exemption, which is a maximum of $7,500 of
assessed value. If you change primary residence, you must notify the assessor. It is
advisable to go in to the assessor’s office and apply for homestead exemption as
soon as you purchase and occupy your home.
What Are the Qualifications to Apply for the Special Assessment Level for 65 And
Older?
A Special Assessment applies to the homestead of person s who are 65 years of age
and older if the adjusted gross household income is below a certain level. For the tax
year 2005, that level will be $56, 744. The level may change form year to year, so it is
advisable to check with your assessor’s office to determine whether you qualify. This
special assessment will freeze the assessed value of the homestead for as long as
the applicant owns and resides in the home and income does not exceed the
maximum allowed. This Special assessment level is lost if improvements in excess
of 25% of the home’s value are added. Proof of age and income is required at the
time the application is signed. The freeze extends to a surviving spouse who is at
least 55 years of age, and meets all other qualifications.
What Is The Relationship Between Market Value And Assessed Value For Property
In Louisiana?
In Louisiana, the classification of property subject to ad valorem taxation and the
percentage of fair market value applicable to each classification for the purpose of
determining assessed value are as follows:
Land 10%
Improvements for Residential 10%
Improvements for Commercial 15%
Business Movable Property (Personal) 15%
Public Service (Excluding Land) 25%
Bona fide agricultural, horticultural, marsh and timberlands as defined by Revenue
Statues shall be assessed for tax purposes at 10% of use value rather than market
value. The Louisiana Tax Commission sets these values.
What Is Meant By Millage Rates Or Mills?
Millage is the percentage of value that is used in calculating taxes. A mill is defined as
1/10 of 1 percent and is multiplied by the assessed value after any exemptions have
been subtracted to calculate the taxes. For example: if the tax rate is 150 mills and
total assessed value is $10,000 with no exemptions, the taxes would be calculated
as $10,000 x .150 = $1,500.00. If for the same house you had a homestead
exemption the taxes would be: $10,000 - $7,500(H.E.) = $2,500.00 x .150 = $375.00 in
taxes. This demonstrates the importance of filing a homestead exemption
lists of each parish are open for public inspection. The assessor will publish in the
local newspaper which two weeks apply to his/her office. During this period, taxpayers
should check the values on their property, and discuss this with the assessor. If there
is a disagreement, and the taxpayer wishes to protest the value, the taxpayer must at
that time fill out a form “Notice of Appeal Request For Board of Review” (Form 3101),
and schedule an appearance before the parish Board of Review for hearing(s) held
for this purpose. The date(s) of hearing(s) of the Board of Review in your parish will
also be published by the assessor in the local newspaper.
The Board of Review office in your parish will determine if any changes should be
made to the assessment values in question. If either the assessor or the taxpayer is
not satisfied with the determination of the Board of Review, either may obtain from the
Board, an Appeal Form (Form 3103.A) for further review by the Louisiana Tax
Commission. The Louisiana Tax Commission will consider any and all appeals
timely filed in hearings that are open to the public.
Those considering appeals are encouraged to consult the assessor, parish board of
review and the Louisiana Tax Commission for specific procedures, dates, times, and
places of all hearings.
When Should I Discuss My Assessment with the Assessor’s Office?
Each year during August 1st through September 15th the assessment rolls are open
for public inspection and for discussion of the assessment with the assessor’s office.
This is the time to discuss your assessment. It also is the time that a taxpayer can
legally file a protest to the assessment if a settlement with the assessor cannot be
reached. Many taxpayers wait until the tax bills are sent each year to discuss their
assessment. The assessor will discuss your assessment at that time but a property
owner cannot legally file a protest at that time
When Should I File A Homestead Exemption Application?
In order to qualify for homestead exemption, one must own and occupy the house as
his/her primary residence. Regardless of how many houses are owned, no one is
entitled to more than one homestead exemption, which is a maximum of $7,500 of
assessed value. If you change primary residence, you must notify the assessor. It is
advisable to go in to the assessor’s office and apply for homestead exemption as
soon as you purchase and occupy your home.
What Are the Qualifications to Apply for the Special Assessment Level for 65 And
Older?
A Special Assessment applies to the homestead of person s who are 65 years of age
and older if the adjusted gross household income is below a certain level. For the tax
year 2005, that level will be $56, 744. The level may change form year to year, so it is
advisable to check with your assessor’s office to determine whether you qualify. This
special assessment will freeze the assessed value of the homestead for as long as
the applicant owns and resides in the home and income does not exceed the
maximum allowed. This Special assessment level is lost if improvements in excess
of 25% of the home’s value are added. Proof of age and income is required at the
time the application is signed. The freeze extends to a surviving spouse who is at
least 55 years of age, and meets all other qualifications.
What Is The Relationship Between Market Value And Assessed Value For Property
In Louisiana?
In Louisiana, the classification of property subject to ad valorem taxation and the
percentage of fair market value applicable to each classification for the purpose of
determining assessed value are as follows:
Land 10%
Improvements for Residential 10%
Improvements for Commercial 15%
Business Movable Property (Personal) 15%
Public Service (Excluding Land) 25%
Bona fide agricultural, horticultural, marsh and timberlands as defined by Revenue
Statues shall be assessed for tax purposes at 10% of use value rather than market
value. The Louisiana Tax Commission sets these values.
What Is Meant By Millage Rates Or Mills?
Millage is the percentage of value that is used in calculating taxes. A mill is defined as
1/10 of 1 percent and is multiplied by the assessed value after any exemptions have
been subtracted to calculate the taxes. For example: if the tax rate is 150 mills and
total assessed value is $10,000 with no exemptions, the taxes would be calculated
as $10,000 x .150 = $1,500.00. If for the same house you had a homestead
exemption the taxes would be: $10,000 - $7,500(H.E.) = $2,500.00 x .150 = $375.00 in
taxes. This demonstrates the importance of filing a homestead exemption
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