Appeal property tax valuations in Philadelphia - Help!

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Appeal property tax valuations in Philadelphia - Help!

Max T.
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes

My assessments all went up... Some went WAY up! 

Do you have or know someone who has successful experience appealing these valuations? 

How much does it cost? 

Is it worth it to pursue?

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Steve Babiak
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
8y

@Max T. - there are lots of companies (usually law firms) that specialize in tax appeals; they take a percentage of the first year's savings as payment, so you don't have much to lose by using one of them UNLESS the appeal results in a higher tax. Yes, you read that correctly, the appeal can go either way or stay the same, you lose if the taxes go up.

My brother appealed taxes on a house in Philadelphia and got a 12% reduction using the guy below:

Jerald Goldfine

RE Tax Associates of Pennsylvania LLC

Good luck.

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  • Steve Babiak
    Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    8y

    @Max T. - there are lots of companies (usually law firms) that specialize in tax appeals; they take a percentage of the first year's savings as payment, so you don't have much to lose by using one of them UNLESS the appeal results in a higher tax. Yes, you read that correctly, the appeal can go either way or stay the same, you lose if the taxes go up.

    My brother appealed taxes on a house in Philadelphia and got a 12% reduction using the guy below:

    Jerald Goldfine

    RE Tax Associates of Pennsylvania LLC

    Good luck.

    3Reply
  • Account Closed
    Accountant · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2013 · 303 posts · 210 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Max T.:

    My assessments all went up... Some went WAY up! 

    Do you have or know someone who has successful experience appealing these valuations? 

    How much does it cost? 

    Is it worth it to pursue?

     How much higher mine are up approx 22%?

    edit: did assessments just come out for 2019?

    0Reply
  • Max T.
    OP
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y
    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Accountant · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2013 · 303 posts · 210 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Max T.:
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Originally posted by @Max T.:

    My assessments all went up... Some went WAY up! 

    Do you have or know someone who has successful experience appealing these valuations? 

    How much does it cost? 

    Is it worth it to pursue?

     How much higher mine are up approx 22%?

    edit: did assessments just come out for 2019?

    Thanks @Steve Babiak. I may reach out to him.

    Yes the 2019 assessments just came out. Some of mine went up like yours, others went up more. One of mine is up almost 100%. I have seen someone else on Facebook comment on having a 300% increase! You may want to check the OPA website. Good luck!

     Should let them know 300% makes them eligible for LOOP program. 

    0Reply
  • Max T.
    OP
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Originally posted by @Max T.:
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Originally posted by @Max T.:

    My assessments all went up... Some went WAY up! 

    Do you have or know someone who has successful experience appealing these valuations? 

    How much does it cost? 

    Is it worth it to pursue?

     How much higher mine are up approx 22%?

    edit: did assessments just come out for 2019?

    Thanks @Steve Babiak. I may reach out to him.

    Yes the 2019 assessments just came out. Some of mine went up like yours, others went up more. One of mine is up almost 100%. I have seen someone else on Facebook comment on having a 300% increase! You may want to check the OPA website. Good luck!

     Should let them know 300% makes them eligible for LOOP program. 

     LOOP = longtime owner occupant program

    We're investors :)

    1Reply
  • Gregory H.
    Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2013 · 451 posts · 369 votes
    8y

    @Max T.

    I'm looking at 10%-30% increases. Not ideal, but their assessments are still double digits under true market value. I guess it depends how the new assessments compare to how you currently value them.

    This is our tax appeal guy https://www.utbf.com/attorney/john-k-fiorillo/

    1Reply
  • Max T.
    OP
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Gregory H.:

    @Max T.

    I'm looking at 10%-30% increases. Not ideal, but their assessments are still double digits under true market value. I guess it depends how the new assessments compare to how you currently value them.

    This is our tax appeal guy https://www.utbf.com/attorney/john-k-fiorillo/

     Thanks for the lead!

    0Reply
  • Luke Badalaty
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 21 posts · 3 votes
    8y

    My one property in West Philly went up 100% while both neighboring properties decreased in value! Assessment is definitely above market value now. Is it worth hiring someone to take care of the appeal rather than doing it myself? 

    0Reply
  • Dan B.
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    8y

    I'm really pissed.  Taxes across my 3 properties are up 37.39% from last year.  Since 2015, they're up 60.36%.  One of them went up 147% since 2015.  That's assuming the rate doesn't go up, which it might!

    0Reply
  • Jon Graboyes
    Professional · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 12 votes
    8y

    I’m in contract to buy a property that has a new 2019 tax assessed value above purchase price. Looks like March 31, 2018 was the deadline for 2019 appeals with the city of Philadelphia. Anyone know if a new owner can file an appeal immediately after closing or would I have to wait to appeal the 2020 assessment? 

    Also, any updates or advice from those in the process of an appeal? 

    Interesting article for any new construction owners with a 10 year tax abatement who received significant land value increase: https://whyy.org/articles/recent-court-ruling-opens-door-homeowners-appeal-tax-bill/

    0Reply
  • Joshua G.
    Collegeville, PA · Member since 2014 · 17 posts · 6 votes
    8y

    @Jon Graboyes, I'm pretty sure that October 1, 2018 is the deadline to appeal: https://www.phila.gov/brt/appeals/Pages/default.aspx

    0Reply
  • Christian Paluzzi
    Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2018 · 29 posts · 8 votes
    7y

    I have serious concerns for my properties as well due to the new assessments.  One property in particular has 4 years left on abatement but the 2019 assessment is 243% higher than 2018's, and all of the other houses on the block show similar assessment increases.  Without the abatement, my tax obligation would have gone up $4700 this year.  Judging by the article posted above and my investigation of assessed values in the area it seems like I am along for the ride without any recourse.

    0Reply
  • Mary B.
    Real Estate Investor · Lansdowne, PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 656 votes
    7y

    some of you may want to read this article. http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/audit-re...

    kudos,

    Mary

    0Reply
  • Will Kaufmann
    Flipper/Rehabber · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2018 · 76 posts · 67 votes
    7y

    I am reviving this since the payment due date is right around the corner. I own a 2/1 in Washington West and my tax assessed value jumped from $250,000 to $372,000 over night which increases the bill by almost 50%. I appealed well before the deadline using market data to justify a lower valuation and never even received a response. What makes even less sense is that my upstairs neighbor in a 3/2 is only valued at $284,500. 

    I am starting to think about selling the unit since rent is $2,300 and my P&I&Taxes are sitting at $2,100. What do you all think? FWIW purchase price was $326,000 in 2015 and I would aggressively list around $425,000.

    0Reply
  • Isadore Nelson
    Member since 2024 · 98 posts · 23 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Gregory H.:

    @Max T.

    I'm looking at 10%-30% increases. Not ideal, but their assessments are still double digits under true market value. I guess it depends how the new assessments compare to how you currently value them.

    This is our tax appeal guy https://www.utbf.com/attorney/john-k-fiorillo/


    See screenshot attached for a property in the area currently up dor sale. How could the tax assessed surpass actual value when it's usually the very opposite?

    0Reply
  • Isadore Nelson
    Member since 2024 · 98 posts · 23 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Luke Badalaty:

    My one property in West Philly went up 100% while both neighboring properties decreased in value! Assessment is definitely above market value now. Is it worth hiring someone to take care of the appeal rather than doing it myself? 

    Would that also mean that the bank's appraisal for a mortgage would be way above actual value? Easier to refinance and retrieve down-payment?
    0Reply
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