Property Assessment Appeals

Have you been hit with an unreasonable property tax assessment in the Pittsburgh area, causing a significant rise in your property taxes? Allegheny County property assessments or reassessments can assign new assessed values to your home or business property. Almost invariably, the assessed value will increase, often significantly. In response, the property owner has the right to appeal and challenge their assessments.

Preparing a strong case is essential to success in the assessment appeal process. Without strong evidence that the property is over-assessed, the most likely result is a ruling leaving you with no change in value. After years of successfully representing property owners in assessment appeals, we understand that the most common factors that contribute to the strength of a case include recent sale data for the property in question, recent comparable sales, and defects in the County’s data. In some cases, a professional property appraisal may be necessary.

The assessment appeal process

In Allegheny County, the assessment appeal process consists of these steps:

  1. Filing the appeal. All assessment appeals must be filed within the designated timeframe set forth by the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review. Timely filing of any appeal is crucial.
  2. The formal hearing. Once an appeal is filed, a date is scheduled upon which a formal hearing will place. This hearing is an opportunity for the property owner and their attorney to present evidence to contest the County’s valuation. Several weeks after the formal hearing, the parties are notified by mail of the result of the formal hearing and to advise of any change in value that has been awarded.
  3. The Board of Viewers. After evaluating the decision from the formal hearing, a second appeal may be filed with the Board of Viewers, part of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Hearings at the Board of Viewers routinely take anywhere from 8 to 12 months to be scheduled.

Whether you are a property owner who is over-assessed, or find yourself fending off a challenge to your assessment by a school district or other taxing body, Ciao, Torisky and O'Connor, LLC, can help you with all Allegheny County property assessment matters. If you have been hit with an unfair assessment, then hit back by calling 1-800 I GOT HIT today and speak to an experienced lawyer to help you with your Allegheny County property tax assessment concern.

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