Philadelphia Property Taxes- Land and Improvement Value

[Kevin M.]

This is mostly just to vent...

Can anyone explain how the OPA (Office of Property Assessment) comes up with home values? It seems to me that certain properties are targeted for higher increases. Particularly properties with an abatement (City jacks up the Land  Value). 

I've attached a perfect example. 

Photo 1- my property located in the middle of a north Philly block. My "Land Value" is up to 5x higher than other identically sized parcels on my street. 

Photo 2- My neighbor TWO LOTS DOWN. Same side of the street. Same lot shape, but my neighbor actually has a LARGER lot. Not only does he have a larger lot- he has a newer, larger building built there. We are zoned exactly the same. His "Land Value" is only 73% of mine. 

I appealed my value. Sent the board an example of 5 other lots on my block. Within 50 feet of my property. Same zoning. Same size (or larger). Same frontage. Same EVERYTHING. My appeal was denied. 

Any other stories dealing with the OPA? Am I taking crazy pills?

[Jared Forman]

This is going to blow your mind...

Nothing the city of Philadelphia does makes any logical sense, no two departments communicate with each other. 

The city is a legal racketeer. 

Example: The city owns Philadelphia Parking Authority. The city will give you tickets that are not warranted. Then they say " ohh sorry buddy, we already printed it. You are going to need to appeal it."

If you do not pay or appeal the ticket within 15 days they add a late fee sometimes greater than the ticket. Then if you don't pay it within 30 days they hit you with a higher late fee. At the end of the day if you don't pay it they boot your car, tow your car, and will put a warrant out for your arrest.

If you try to appeal  it they give you a date 6 months out and the judge is a city official who doesn't care what you have to say. 

USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE