Residential assessments are determined by analyzing approximately 10,000 recent sales occurring within 128 neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods established by OTR throughout the District. The levels of recent assessment increases are similar to those experienced by other jurisdictions in the Washington metropolitan area. Arlington County reports that its increase in residential assessments is 18.25 percent above 2005’s average assessments. A portion of Montgomery County, which has not been reassessed for the past three years, has increased 70.4 percent for residential properties, for an annualized rate of more than 23.5 percent. Maryland’s statewide increase is 20.1 percent above last year’s assessments.
The assessment notice contains not only proposed assessed value information, but important information related to property tax relief programs such as the Homestead Deduction and the owner-occupied residential tax cap. Also included on the notice is contact information if a taxpayer wishes to discuss the assessment with their assessor.
District property owners who believe their proposed assessment does not reflect the market value of their property are encouraged to file an appeal on or before the April 3, 2006, deadline. The appeal process begins when a property owner submits an appeal application to OTR. Information about the appeal process and the appeal application is available in the Real Property Service Center and at libraries and fire stations throughout the District.
Each year OTR’s Real Property Tax Administration conducts a citywide outreach effort, in which representatives attend Advisory Neighborhood Commission and other community meetings to provide information on how the assessment process is conducted, what to expect when the new assessments are mailed, and how to appeal a property assessment by the April 3 due date. If you would like to invite an OTR representative to your next meeting, contact Thomas Branham, chief assessor, at (202) 442-6740.
