We will never negotiate a plan that is lesser than what you have today, sometimes though we find that plans actually increase in data limits or internet speeds while still finding a drop in monthly rate. If that happens, we move forward with reducing your bill.  
 
#billreduction #internetbill #phonebill #utilitybill

For bill reduction services on internet, phone and other utilities, is it possible for my plan details or data limits to change without my approval?

We will automatically begin the process of reducing the bill provided within the confines of your existing plan details. Our goal is to never change your plan, as most bills can find a reduction in savings while still keeping the existing plan details. If we can achieve a reduction while keeping your plan the same, then we will automatically reduce it for you.If we feel a plan change could be a good move, we will reach out to you for approval, although we rarely pursue this sort of reduction today.
 
#billreduction #internetbill #phonebill #utilitybill

For bill reduction services on internet, phone and other utilities, will you start right away and ask for my approval before finalizing the reduction?

Our Bill Reduction Expert contingency fee is on the total savings over the time frame of the reduced bill terms.
For example, if you were paying $100 per month and we reduced your bill to $80 per month for the next 12 months, that would be $240 in savings and our fee would be $60.
 
#billreduction #internetbill #phonebill #utilitybill

For bill reduction services on internet, phone and other utilities, is your contingency charge a one time fee or a recurring fee each time my bill is due?

We will never negotiate a plan that is lesser than what you have today, sometimes though we find that plans actually increase in data limits or internet speeds while still finding a drop in monthly rate. If that happens, we move forward with reducing your bill.  
 
#billreduction #internetbill #phonebill #utilitybill

All appeals will go through the County Board of Equalization. Once an appeal form and evidence packet is submitted, the County Board of Equalization will contact you or your appointed property tax consultant with a scheduled time, date, and location for the formal review hearing. During this formal review hearing, either you or your appointed property tax consultant and the county assessor will be provided with the opportunity to give a spoken statement and provide written evidence supporting any claimed value of the property to the County Board of Equalization.
Using the evidence collected prior to the hearing, you or your property tax consultants then need to present, what the board deems, a clear and convincing argument as to why the property was over assessed and that true value of the property is best reflected by this evidence. Following the hearing, the Board of Equalization will issue a decision within 45 days of the hearing.
If you wish to further contest the Board of Equalization’s decision, you can appeal to the Washington Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) as long as you file within 30 days of the Board of Equalization's postmarked decision. When taking an appeal to the BTA, you will still need to file your taxes for the county assessed amount and then need to petition the Superior Court for a refund based on the final adjusted amount.

The Hearing Process in Washington

Washington has a provisional filing deadline of July 1st of the assessment year. However, for all value notices sent after June 1st, the deadline for filing is extended to 30 days from the postmarked date of the value notice.
To start an appeal, you will need to either file a Taxpayer Petition for Review of Property Valuation Determination form with the county where your property is located or appoint a tax consultancy such as Ownwell who can file on your behalf. Your appeal must be submitted using this form; letters or phone calls are not acceptable forms of submission in Washington. These forms are available online at the Washington Department of Revenue’s website, or at any local county board of equalization and assessor’s offices. All submitted appeal forms are required to be time-stamped before midnight of the deadline date.
In Washington, the burden of proof is on the property owner (or tax consultant working on their behalf). This means to win an appeal you must provide clear, cogent, and convincing evidence your property is overassessed. The County Board of Equalization requires an evidence packet that supports any value claims to be submitted as part of the appeal process. Some examples of acceptable evidence include: proof of a recent third party appraisal of the property, documentation of excessive deterioration or quotes for repairs required for the habitability of the property, and sales comparables for properties with similar characteristics that reflect a lower value. All information must be provided at least 21 business days before the hearing.

How to Appeal Property Taxes in Washington

Property owners are encouraged to file for every property tax exemption they qualify for. Tax exemptions are available for senior citizens and people who are no longer able to work due to disabilities. Veterans with a VA disability rating of 80% or higher qualify for property tax exemptions as well. Washington also offers tax assistance programs for widows and widowers of veterans as well as tax deferral programs for limited income homeowners.
Another potential source of savings is available if your property has been partially or fully destroyed or is located in an area impacted by a governor declared disaster area and has lost over 20% of its market value as a result of a natural disaster. Washington state residents may receive a tax reduction by filing a Destroyed Property claim.
Beyond this, appealing your property taxes can help you save money if your property has been inaccurately assessed.

How to Save Money On Property Taxes In Washington

Each county’s team of assessors use a variety of methods to appraise all taxable property at 100% of its true and fair market value. Market value is defined by the assessor as the monetary amount a willing and unobligated buyer would be willing to pay an unobligated seller for a specific property. This value is calculated by using one or more of the following appraisal methods: market or sales comparison, cost approach, and income capitalization approach for income producing properties.
The assessed value will also factor in any potential exemptions or reductions. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. In a situation where the county assessed value is higher than the market value, property owners have a strong case for an appeal.
To calculate your tax liability, you will need to know the assessed value of your property as well as the local county levy rate. While the assessed value will be included in the property value notice sent by the county, the levy rate is not always included. The levy rate is assigned by the county assessor’s office and can be found on their website. You can calculate your property tax liability by using the formula below.


FORMULA
Assessed Value x Levy Rate = Tax Liability
EXAMPLE
$250,000 x .00913 = $2,282.50
Assessed Value = Value determined by county assessor
Levy Rate = Dollar amount per $1,00 of assessed value



How Property is Appraised in Washington

If you believe that your property has been inaccurately assessed, you can file an appeal. The appeal window for all regular appeals in all counties opens July 2nd for commercial and residential properties and the filing deadline varies by county. Most counties are either September 15 or November 30, and you can check with your local county tax assessor’s website or see your valuation notice for more information.
In the case of a Supplemental assessments, the deadline to appeal is within 60 days of mailing date or postmark date on the notice, whichever is later.
Note that there is a filing fee for some counties in California, including Contra Costa and Los Angeles county.
There are two types of appeals. The first type of appeal is called "Decline In Value". Proposition 8 allows all property owners to request a property valuation review from their county assessor. This process involves filing the appropriate forms and compelling evidence with the county assessor’s to reduce a property’s assessed value. The local assessor will review and respond to these requests on a rolling basis, typically prior to any formal appeal process.
The second type of appeal is called a "Base Value Appeal". You can only appeal your property’s base value within 3 years of when it is set either by a purchase or new construction. When appealing the base value of your property, you are arguing the value that sets the basis from which your property tax assessment will grow for years to come. Base value appeals can be quite valuable when contemplating the multiple years of tax savings.
Every county in California has a process by which you may contest or appeal your property’s assessed value. The formal process of appealing your property valuation often takes many months.

How to Appeal Property Taxes in California

The best way to reduce your tax liability is to file for every exemption you qualify for. There are several exemptions available, some of which are listed below.


Homeowner’s Exemption - If you own a home and it is your principal place of residence on January 1, you may apply for an exemption of $7,000 from your assessed value each year. This equates to at least ~$70 off your property tax bill annually. Note that you only need to claim this exemption once, and it’s important to submit this claim soon after you buy.

Disabled Veterans Exemption - If you are a disabled veteran who is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of two or more limbs, or is totally disabled as a result of injury or disease incurred in military service, you may be eligible for an exemption of the assessed value of your home. The Veterans Administration must certify the veteran’s disability. Unmarried surviving spouses of certain deceased veterans may also qualify.

Institutional Exemption - Property used exclusively by a church, nonprofit college, cemetery, museum, school, or library may qualify for an exemption. Property owned and used exclusively by a nonprofit, religious, charitable, scientific, or hospital corporation may also be eligible. To receive the full exemption, an applicant must file completed claim forms by February 15.

Disaster Relief - You may be eligible for tax relief if your property is damaged or destroyed by a calamity, such as fire or flooding. To qualify, you must file an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. The loss must exceed $10,000 of current market value.

Builders/Developers - New construction built specifically for sale may be excluded from supplemental assessment.

Beyond taking every exemption you qualify for, you can also appeal your property’s assessed value with the county if you believe your property has been inaccurately assessed.

How to Save Money on Property Taxes in California

California property assessments are based on the purchase price of the property; the assessed value is equal to the purchase price in the first year. Every year thereafter, the assessed value increases according to the rate of inflation, capped at an annual increase of 2%. For property owners who have owned their properties for a long time, the assessed value is likely to be significantly lower than market value, particularly those in the hottest housing markets in California.
This tax assessed value, minus any exemptions, is multiplied by the property tax rate to get the property taxes due.
Assessed value is often lower than market value, so effective tax rates (taxes paid as a percentage of market value) in California are typically lower than 1%.

How Property is Appraised in California

All property owners in California should be aware of California’s constitutional amendments, Proposition 13 and Proposition 8. Proposition 13 provides three important functions in property tax assessments in California:

Establishes a base year for all properties (typically the year it was purchased).
Sets a restricted rate of increase on assessments of no greater than 2% each year.
Places a limit on property taxes to 1% of the assessed value (plus additional voter-approved taxes).

New property base years are established when there is a change in ownership or at the completion of new construction. At that time, the property is reassessed at its current market value as of the date of transfer or in the case of new construction, when the construction is complete. If construction is just an addition, the original base year value for improvements remains and a new base year value on the new construction is added.
Proposition 8 was passed as an amendment to Proposition 13. It annually caps the assessed value of property at the lesser of its market value or its factored base year value. Proposition 8 allows a temporary reduction when the market value of property has fallen below its Proposition 13 adjusted base value. However, since property values have been increasing for the last few years, the Proposition 8 cap only applies to properties with unique circumstances.
These amendments mean that in the current market, new construction and remodels (particularly those that add square footage to a property) are most likely to trigger a reassessment and are therefore the most likely to benefit from a property tax appeal in California.

Property Legislation in California

Property owners who believe that their property may have been inaccurately assessed can contact the Property Appraiser’s office for an informal review or file a petition for adjustment/ appeal with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) and have their case heard.
There may be a small fee in some counties for filing, around $15 in Palm Beach for example.
The VAB is an agency of the Clerk of Courts Office, which is independent of the Property Appraiser's Office. If an appeal is filed, the VAB will schedule a hearing at which the property owner will make their case for a value adjustment, to a Special Magistrate experienced in property appraisal techniques, and the Property Appraiser's Office will defend its assessment.
The deadline date for filing an appeal is shown at the bottom of the TRIM Notice which is mailed to property owners in August.
In Florida, the burden of proof for over assessment falls on the homeowner. Therefore it is up to you to convince the VAB that your property has been inaccurately assessed. Due to this, you (or your property tax consultant) are required to submit all documents that will be used to support your appeal to the Property Appraiser's Office 15 days prior to the scheduled VAB hearing. The property appraiser is also obligated to share any and all evidence they have with you. However, to receive this evidence you are required to submit a written request for this information. Upon submitting a written request, the appraiser is required to send you their evidence at least 7 days prior to the hearing.
Examples of evidence that can be used to support your case are:

Sales comps
Proof of damage or deferred maintenance
Quotes for repairs that impact inhabitability of property

The typical hearing process starts with the VAB informing you of your scheduled hearing time and date. This occurs 25 days before the petition hearing. From there you will submit your evidence following the timeline covered in the previous paragraph and wait for the appraiser to send you their evidence packet. On your hearing date you and the appraiser will be provided with the opportunity to present your evidence to the VAB. The VAB prefers these hearings to follow a predetermined schedule so that both parties have equal amounts of time to present their case. Due to this, it’s important to make a clear and concise argument as to why your assessment is too high. This can be achieved by using strong and relevant supporting evidence.
After hearing both sides and reviewing the evidence, the Special Magistrate will give their written recommendation to the clerk. The clerk then has 20 days from the date of the hearing to notify you of the VAB’s final decision. In your decision notice you will receive the final decision on your appeal, an explanation of any changes that were made, and a list of considerations that factored into this decision including their legal reasoning. If you are displeased with the decision made by the VAB you can file a lawsuit in the circuit court.

How To Appeal Property Taxes in Florida

The best way to reduce your property taxes is to file for all exemptions you qualify for.
The most popular exemption is the homestead exemption, which can be claimed by owners at their primary residence.
The homestead exemption reduces the home’s assessed value by $25,000, and by another $25,000 from non-school related property taxes.
Homeowners who receive the homestead exemption also benefit from the Save Our Homes assessment limitation (cap), which caps increases in assessed value by 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. So, even if you own a home in a quickly appreciating real estate market, your tax liability is limited (unless one of your local government bodies increases millage rates).
There are other property tax exemptions available in Florida for persons 65 and older, veterans, and persons with disabilities. In Florida, property owners age 65 or older can qualify for an additional homestead exemption deduction worth up to $50,000 if the property being taxed is the permanent residence and their income is no higher than $20,000 annually. The amount of the exemption is determined by the county commissioners office. Some counties also require that the property value does not exceed $250,000 and has been the preeminent place of residence for 25 years or more to qualify for the exemption.
Veterans exemptions in Florida operate differently than persons 65 and older exemptions. There are a few different exemptions that veterans and their families can use to get reductions on their property taxes. While active duty service members do not get specific property tax exemptions, they are able to use their homestead property as a rental property without forfeiting their homestead status. Military veterans who were honorably discharged, are a resident of Florida, and have a VA rated disability level of 10% or higher caused by injuries sustained during wartime can be eligible for a $5,000 reduction on the assessed value of their property. This exemption is not limited to homestead properties. Florida residents that are honorably discharged veterans with service-related total and permanent disability may be eligible for total exemption from ad valorem taxes on property they own and use as their homestead.
The state of Florida offers some of the largest property tax exemptions for people with disabilities in the United States. You can find out more about these exemptions on the Florida Department of Revenue website.
Additionally, there is a Non-Homestead Cap that ensures that even non-homesteaded property assessment value can not increase by more than 10% of the previous year's assessed value, regardless of the property's market value. This 10% cap ensures that even non-homesteaded properties assessment value can not increase by more than 10% of the previous year's assessed value, regardless of the property’s market value. Qualified non-homesteaded properties in applicable counties are granted this 10% cap automatically. However, this cap only applies to non-school board assessed values.

How To Save Money on Property Taxes in Florida

Each county in Florida appraises all properties within the county each year, using mass appraisal technology. This analysis of real estate market data assigns values to large swathes of properties at once.
Each property has a just value (market value), an assessed value, and a taxable value. The assessed value is the market value minus assessment limitations (read more about Save Our Homes in the How To Save Money section below). The taxable value is the result of market value minus the homestead cap (the assessed value), non-homestead cap, portability and any exemptions. Properties often have more than one taxable value because certain exemptions and cap limitations do not apply to all taxing authorities. For example, the senior exemptions and Non-Homestead Caps do not apply to the School Board.
The taxable market value for each property is the value of a property on January 1st of each year. This is determined using the following methodologies:

The Comparable Sales (Market) Approach compares similar properties by reviewing property sales in your area. Adjustments are made to account for some differences between the properties, such as square footage, lot size, and swimming pools.
The Cost Approach considers how much it would cost, at current material and labor costs, to replace your property, taking into account any applicable depreciation.
The Income Approach considers the income derived from income-producing properties such as rental homes. Specific facts evaluated are operating expenses, taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, the degree of financial risk taken in earning income from the property, and the return on the investment

Property taxes in Florida are implemented in millage rates. A millage rate is one tenth of a percent, which equates to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in home value. A number of different authorities, including counties, municipalities, school boards and special districts, can levy these taxes.
Property owners will receive an annual Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice in mid to late August each year, which states their property’s just or market value, and assessed value. You will be responsible for both ad valorem taxes, which are property taxes based on your property’s value, and any applicable non-ad valorem assessments, which are fees that may be added to your bill by levying authorities such as the Solid Waste Authority.
Note that millage rates and exemptions apply separately to school taxes and non-school taxes. You can get more information and a more detailed calculation worked out on the Florida Department of Revenue's website.
If you believe that the appraised value on your property is inaccurate, including exceeding the current market value (what you could get if you sold your home on the open market), you can file an appeal to the county adjustment board. Note that property owners have only 25 days to file an appeal from the postmarked date of the TRIM notice.

How Property is Appraised in Florida

299c Lock / Freeze
One major misconception about appeals in Georgia relates to the 299c lock, more commonly known as the “3 year freeze.” The 299c lock is implemented when a property owner takes their appeal to the BOE and their value is reduced. When this happens, the BOE “freezes” the property’s value at this reduced value for 3 years. For a 3 year freeze to be officially implemented, it has to be drafted into the settlement.
Note that this “3 year freeze” does not apply in two cases. First, it does not apply when a property owner accepts a BOA reduction or if the property owner does not attend their BOE hearing. It is surprisingly common for property owners to fail to show up for their hearing, but this has the consequence of preventing you from qualifying for a 299c lock. Furthermore, in many cases if a property has a “3 year freeze” and is sold during this “freeze”, the new owner does not always inherit the value locked price. However, whether a 3 year freeze is honored after a sale or not is dependent on the county assessor's office. So, new property owners should strongly consider appealing their property taxes as soon as possible to try to lock in your property value at the lowest rate.
Value Cap
One area of concern for new owners is the Value Cap. For properties purchased in 2021 and 2022, the taxable value cannot exceed the sales price of the property. However, starting in 2023, this Value Cap will no longer be in effect so new property owners will no longer have tax protection against property value spikes. For property owners who have enjoyed this value cap the past few years, it is important to appeal your property taxes as soon as possible to get the 3 year freeze implemented.

Georgia Tax Laws: Three Year Freeze & Value Cap

If after receiving your assessment notice you think your property has been inaccurately assessed, you can file an appeal. You’ll have 45 days to appeal with the Board of Assessors after receiving your notice and can find instructions for appealing your property taxes on the county website.
After submitting an appeal, the BOA may offer to adjust a property's taxable value based on the evidence submitted. If a reduction is offered, the property owner is not obligated to accept the offer. Typically, the offer is a fraction of the amount a property owner or agent could receive if they choose to push the appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE).
The BOE is considered a formal hearing in which the board of hearing officers will listen to the appeal and make a ruling. The expected appeal timeline of a BOE hearing is around 180 days.
Note: In situations where an appeal was not resolved by the time a tax bill was mailed, you are required to pay a temporary bill. Legislation HB 197 states that if a property’s value is under appeal, the taxpayer has the option to pay 100% of the proposed bill, the lesser of 85% of the proposed bill, or taxes based on the prior year's value. Once the appeal is resolved, the tax bill will be recalculated to factor in the payment already submitted.

How to Appeal Property Taxes in Georgia

Property tax exemptions in Georgia can reduce your home's assessed value and, therefore, your taxes. There is a statewide exemption for $2,000. However, this applies only to the statewide property tax.
The major exemption that Georgia offers property owners is the homestead exemption which applies only to the homeowner’s primary residence. The homestead exemption allows you to take a predetermined dollar amount taken off your yearly taxable account. In some municipalities, your homestead exemption can also cap the percentage increase in your property's taxable value by 3% or to reflect the consumer price index (CPI) at the time of assessment. The county will use whichever value, 3% or CPI, is lower.
While the homestead exemption is the main property tax exemption offered in Georgia, there are further exemptions that are offered to individuals with specific qualifications. The additional exemptions are offered to individuals who are senior citizens, have a disability, are veterans with a 100% VA rated disability, or are the child or unremarried spouse of a deceased veteran. This is not an exhaustive list and these exemptions do not have uniform requirements set by the state, so please check with your local county assessor's office to see if you qualify for these further savings.
Beyond taking every exemption you qualify for, you can also appeal your property’s assessed value with the county.

How to Save Money on Property Taxes in Georgia

Each year, the County Board of Assessors (BOA) uses mass appraisal technology to determine the market value of all properties based on factors such as use type and neighborhood. Market value is defined as “the amount a knowledgeable buyer would pay for the property and a willing seller would accept for the property at an arm's length, bona fide sale.”
The BOA then multiplies your property's market value by the assessment ratio to calculate your property's taxable value. The assessment ratio for all counties in Georgia is 40%. The result of multiplying the assessment ratio by the market value is the taxable value of your property.
In the final step, the BOA multiplies the taxable value by the tax rate. The property tax rate varies from county to county, and even differs between municipalities within each county. To calculate effective tax rate, some counties use millage to express their tax rates. A mill is one one-thousandth of a dollar, and in property tax terms is equal to $1.00 of tax for each $1,000 of assessment. 15 mills, therefore, is equal to $15 for every $1,000 of assessed value, or 1.5%. Some counties, such as Gwinnett, show the mill rate already divided by 1,000. The millage rate can be confusing and not every county expresses their tax rate in mills.


How to Calculate Property Taxes in Georgia
STEP 1
Fair Market Value x 40% = Assessed Value
STEP 2
Assessed Value - Exemptions = Taxable Value
STEP 3
Taxable Value x Tax Rate = Taxes Due


Example
STEP 1
$462,588 x 40% = $185,035.20 (Assessed Value)
STEP 2
$185,035.20 - $2,000 = $183,035.20 (Taxable Value)
STEP 3
$185,035.20 x 3.20% = $5,857.13 (Taxes Due)



How are Properties Appraised and Taxed in Georgia

We are so happy you have referred some friends to Ownwell! 
As you know our referral program is a win-win for you and your friends! You get a $20 credit for every sign up and so does your friend. Once your friend signs up using your referral link $20 will be credited to your account. These credits can easily be viewed in your Property Portal!
 
To view how many credits you have in your account please follow these steps:
1. Log into your Ownwell Property Portal 
2. Once logged into your account click on "Give $20, Get $20" in the top right corner of your portal.
3. Your Referral Count and Available credit can be found on the pop-up under the dogs! 
 
 
 

Where Can I See my Referral Credits?

Where do I submit bills I want reduced?
To submit a bill to Ownwell, open your property in your portal. The Ways to Save section will have multiple ways to help reduce costs and one of them is labeled Bill Reduction. From the Bill Reduction tab, just pick a bill from the drop down and provide a couple bits of information such as provider name, an image of the bill, etc. and then submit it.
What happens after I submit a bill?
Upon submission, we will gather the information you've shared and work with the provider directly to get the bill lowered. If we need additional information we will reach out to you. After a successful bill reduction is achieved, we will notify you of the results.
How much does it cost?
Ownwell's Bill Reduction uses the same Savings-Or-Free Guarantee that you know and love! We charge a contingency fee on the savings amount and you only pay if you save. The contingency fee ranges between 25%-35% depending on your properties location. 

How does Ownwell Bill Reduction work?

Ownwell is not live with property tax appeal and protest services in certain counties. However, we can still help with property tax Exemptions if you don't have one already. This means if you sign up a property where we only offer exemptions we will not be able to support your appeal and protest for that address.
You can still sign up for Ownwell to get your exemption activated and/or ensure you receive a potential refund if applicable. 

Why am I only able to receive Exemption services but not Appeal services for my property with Ownwell?

There are hundreds of different types of tax exemptions available, with different ways to qualify based on residency, age, disability, recent natural disasters, renewable energy usage, and more. Ownwell uses data &amp; technology to match your property with all eligible exemptions to maximize your property tax savings. Our local tax experts often find opportunities to reduce your assessment in addition to any exemption(s) you may already have in place. Ownwell also provides ongoing property tax monitoring for tens of thousands of property owners and reviews their tax exemption eligibility throughout the year.

What exemptions could I be eligible for?


All you need is your current ID which includes the property address you’re applying for. In select geographies, you will also need proof of ownership dated near your move-in date, such as a utility bill - anything that proves you lived on the property.


What do I need to apply for exemptions? 

In addition to submitting a grievance in Nassau County, Ownwell will also file in the subsequent cities and incorporated villages. As these municipalities independently assess properties, separate from the County roll, their assessments are open to challenge. Please refer below to determine if Ownwell will cover your city or village this year. 
 



City 
Grievance Deadline


Glen Cove
6/18/2024


Long Beach
1/16/2024


 
 


Village
 


East Hills
2/20/2024


East Rockaway
2/20/2024


Farmingdale
2/20/2024


Floral Park
2/20/2024


Freeport
2/20/2024


Garden City
2/20/2024


Great Neck
2/20/2024


Hempstead
2/20/2024


Lake Success
2/20/2024


Lynbrook
2/20/2024


Malverne
2/20/2024



Massapequa Park

2/20/2024



Mineola

2/20/2024



New Hyde Park

2/20/2024



Rockville Center

2/20/2024



Sands Point

2/20/2024



Sea Cliff

2/20/2024



Valley Stream

2/20/2024



Williston Park

2/20/2024



 

Nassau County City and Incorporated Village Tax Grievances 

What is Escrow?
In a mortgage, an escrow account is like a savings account set up by your lender to help you pay for certain expenses related to your home. These expenses typically include property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Here's how it works:


Your lender collects a portion of your property taxes and homeowners insurance with your monthly mortgage payment.


They save this money in the escrow account throughout the year.


When property taxes or insurance bills are due, your lender uses the money in the escrow account to pay these bills for you.


How do I find how much my Escrow is?
To find your escrow amount, 

Check your monthly mortgage statement from your bank or lender. There should be a line in your monthly payment breakdown for Escrow.
Log in to your online mortgage account, if you have one. You can typically view a digital monthly statement of your mortgage payments.
Contact your mortgage lender directly. Your lender should be able to provide you with the details of your statement upon request. 

These methods will help you find out how much your escrow payments are and how much money is in your escrow account. 
 
 

What is Escrow and how do I know how much my Escrow is?

If you have received a property tax statement, it has to be paid prior to the Arbitration hearing. Once the Arbitration hearing is done, a refund will be sent for any credits due to you based on the newly awarded Arbitration value. If your property has homestead exemptions, once the final awarded Arbitration value is in, the County Appraisal District will adjust your capped value and issue you a credit for any overage you paid. Please note 123 Main St cannot have any delinquent taxes. The property tax bill must be paid on time in full.

What do I do with my tax statement if my case is still in the arbitration process? 

The Texas Comptroller's office is about 6 months behind due to many unhappy property owners filing for Arbitration. With this delay, they are working very hard to process all the arbitration appeals as fast as they can. Please rest assured, arbitration appeals were filed successfully, we are just patiently waiting for an update from them.
You may have received an email from us about starting the new protest season. The 2022 and 2023 are separate appeals, so please do not be alarmed that we have not concluded with one appeal before starting with the other. We will be working on both appeals.

Why is my case for arbitration taking so long? 

The process of approving a case involves multiple stages, including evaluations by property tax consultants and managers. In order to proceed with an arbitration request, a deposit must be submitted with Form 50-791. The amount of the deposit can range from $500-1,550, depending on the type and value of the property. 
 
If the arbitrator's assessed value is closer to the agent's opinion of value, the Comptroller retains $50 and the appraisal district covers the arbitrator fee. Conversely, if the arbitrator's assessed value is closer to the appraisal district's opinion of value, the Comptroller retains $50 and Ownwell covers the arbitrator fee. Therefore, we only proceed with arbitration if there is a high probability of obtaining a significant reduction and if the assessed value is closer to Ownwell's opinion of value.
 
Once we determine that the property owner has a viable case for arbitration, they are required to sign Form 50-791, the Comptroller's Appointment of Agent(s) form for Regular Binding Arbitration, which grants Ownwell the authority to represent them. 
 
Here is a quick breakdown of the Regular Binding Arbitration Process:

Submit the arbitration request form (Form AP219) and a deposit ($500+) within 60 days of receiving the Appraisal Review Board's (ARB) order of determination.
The Appraisal District will review and forward the request and deposit to the Comptroller within 10 days. The Comptroller will then review and approve the request.
The Comptroller will review and approve the request.
Enter the 45-day settlement period.
If no settlement or withdrawal is filed during the settlement period, the Comptroller will assign an arbitrator.
The arbitrator will have 10 days to accept or reject the case.
The arbitrator will have up to 120 days to hold a hearing with both the agent and the appraisal district.
Within 20 days of the hearing, the arbitrator will make an award determination and notify all parties involved.

 
 

What is the process to be approved for Binding Arbitration or Escalation?

Ownwell offers the option to escalate your case to a higher court if we believe it has merit. This process is commonly known as Escalation.
 
In Texas, Escalation is referred to as Binding Arbitration, which provides a cost-effective and expedient alternative to appealing an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) determination in district court. Binding arbitration involves the appointment of an impartial and independent arbitrator who presides over a hearing where both parties, including the agent and appraisal district, present their evidence. The arbitrator then renders a final decision on the value that is binding on all parties involved.
 
What are the requirements to file for arbitration? 
(1) a protest was previously filed
(2) an application has to be filed within 60 days from the date of the ARB order of determination.
(3) The taxes on the property subject to the appeal are not delinquent and have been paid on time for all prior years. There are no undisputed tax amounts for the year at issue before the delinquency date. 
(4) A lawsuit has not been filed in district court. 
(5) The property is not a residence homestead or the property value on the ARB order determining protest is not over $5 million.
 
 
 
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What is Escalation / Arbitration? How does it work?

Market Value: Market value refers to the estimated price at which a property would sell in the current real estate market. It is determined by various factors, including the property's location, size, condition, amenities, and recent sales of comparable properties in the area. Market value can fluctuate over time due to changes in market conditions, property improvements, or other external factors.
Assessed Value: Assessed value, on the other hand, is the value assigned to a property by the local tax assessor's office for the purpose of calculating property taxes. It is usually a percentage of the property's market value. The assessed value is used to determine the amount of property tax you owe to your local taxing authority.
Key Differences:

Purpose: Market value is used in real estate transactions, such as buying or selling a property. Assessed value, on the other hand, is used solely for tax assessment purposes.
Determination: Market value is determined by real estate professionals, appraisers, or through comparative market analysis. Assessed value, however, is determined by the local tax assessor's office based on their assessment methods and guidelines.
Fluctuation: Market value can change frequently due to market conditions, property improvements, or other factors. Assessed value, on the other hand, is typically reassessed periodically, usually annually or every few years, and may not always reflect the current market value.
Tax Calculation: Property taxes are based on the assessed value of your property, not the market value. The tax rate is applied to the assessed value to determine your property tax bill. Therefore, even if the market value of your property increases, your assessed value and subsequent tax bill may not increase at the same rate.

Why Understanding the Difference Matters: Understanding the distinction between market value and assessed value is crucial when it comes to property taxes. By having a clear understanding of these terms, you can better evaluate the fairness of your property tax assessment. If you believe that your assessed value is higher than it should be, you may have grounds for a property tax appeal to potentially reduce your tax bill.
 
keywords: market vs assessed, versus, assessed value, market value

What is Market Value and Assessed Value, and how are they different?

Paying your Ownwell invoice is easy and we offer a few different ways to make your payment!
 
Once your appeal is completed, we will notify you via email about your results. Shortly after, you will receive another email that your invoice is now ready and conveniently includes a link to pay it online (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover accepted). You can visit your property portal to make a payment online as well and also see a more detailed breakdown of your invoice. Alternatively, you can also mail a check to Ownwell if needed. Below are detailed steps for the option of your choice:
 
Pay with Credit/Debit Card from Email Invoice:
1. You should have received an invoice to your email from our payments provider Stripe
2. Click on the Payment button on the email and it will open your invoice online
3. Enter your credit or debit card information and click "Pay now"
Note: you should receive a payment confirmation email, but if you'd like you can download your receipt for your records
 
Pay with Credit/Debit Card in your Property Portal:
1. Sign in to your property portal here: https://www.ownwell.com/sign-in
2. Once signed in, click on the Billing tab at the bottom left corner of the menu bar
Note: if you're on a mobile device, tap the settings icon in the top right corner and then Billing
3. Click on the Invoice and then the Pay Online Now button and it will open your invoice via Stripe
4. Enter your credit or debit card information and click "Pay now"
 
Pay with Check by Mail:
1. You can find your exact invoice amount in the email you received from Stripe or on your property portal here: https://www.ownwell.com/sign-in
2. Fill out the check and make it out to Ownwell, Inc. Be sure to include the invoice number in the Memo line
3. Mail the check to: 1703 W 5th St Suite # 625 Austin, TX 78703
4. It can usually take 7-10 business days after you've mailed your check for your invoice to update and for you to receive confirmation.
 
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How do I pay my Ownwell invoice?

Some counties will not send a tax bill until the appeal process has been completed; however, if you receive a tax bill you should pay it before the due date. Past-due payments can result in late fees, and penalties, and in some cases, the county can cancel the ongoing appeal. Refunds will be issued by the county for any overpayment, once the appeal is completed. 

If my appeal isn't finished, will I still need to pay my tax bill? 

Congratulations on selling your property! It’s easy to mark your property as sold in your property portal settings. 
To mark your property as sold, follow these steps:

Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.



Once in your portal, click on “Settings” in the navigation on the left side of the page, towards the bottom and then select “Properties”
Click the menu with the three dots for the property you’ve sold. 
Select “Mark as Sold” and complete the quick form. 

Keep in mind that if you have an active appeal and savings are achieved as a result of the hearing, an invoice will still be due, according to the Ownwell service agreement.
 
 
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What should I do if I sold or need to remove a property?

Changing the password to your property portal is easy. 
Don’t have a property portal account yet? See our article on how to claim an account. 
 
Follow these steps if you forgot your password:


 Navigate directly to the Forgot Password page by going to ownwell.com/forgot. Or click “Sign In” in the upper right corner at ownwell.com, and select “Forgot Password” below the password field. 

 Enter the email address you used to create your account.

 Check your email inbox for an email with a reset link. Click “Reset Password”Please allow up to 5 minutes for the email to hit your inbox and check your spam folder. If you are still having trouble, submit a request. 


 Enter a new password.Passwords must be at least 8 characters. 

 That’s it! Sign back into your account to continue to enjoy your personalized property portal. 

 
Follow these steps if you want to change your password in the property portal:


 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/log-in.

 Once in your portal, click on “Account” in the navigation on the left side of the page, towards the bottom.
In the Account Information section, enter your old password along with your new password. 
Select “Reset Password” to reset your password. 


How do I change my password?

We are so happy you want to refer a friend to our service. We believe that all people should have access to the tools, resources, and information to manage their real estate with confidence. 
Our referral program is a win-win for you and your friends! You get a $20 credit for every sign up and so does your friend.
 
Follow these steps to refer a friend to Ownwell:


 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Don’t have a property portal account yet? See our article on how to claim an account. 

 Once in your portal, click on  “Refer a Friend” in the navigation on the left side of the page, towards the bottom.

Under “Share your referral link” copy your personalized referral link by clicking on the field. 

Share the link with friends and family, making sure they sign up from your link. Please note that if they sign up later by going to ownwell.com directly, you may not get credit for the referral.
If they sign up using your link, you both will receive a $20 credit to your contingency fee if we are able to save you money on your appeal. 
Your successful referrals (referrals who signed up for Ownwell and were verified) will show at the bottom of your referral page. 

 
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How do I refer someone to Ownwell?

If you do not have an address or know what it is, you can still sign up to appeal with Ownwell with a Parcel Number or APN. A property’s parcel number is a unique ID number assigned to each property for tax purposes. It can be found on your tax assessment valuation notice and on the county assessor’s website. The process to sign up this way is easy, but it may take us a little longer to verify property ownership. 
 
Follow these steps to sign up a property with a Parcel Number or APN:


Select “Start Your Appeal” in the upper right corner of the website on desktop or select the three lines in the upper right on your mobile device then select “Start Your Appeal” at the button of the menu. 


Under the address entry box, select “Enter Your Parcel Number”. 

Select your state and then county. In some counties, we provide a link to the county appraisal district’s website. You can use this link to find out your Parcel Number or APN. 

Enter your Parcel Number or APN, to search for the correct property. By using our search function, we will be able to quickly match your Parcel Number or APN to the correct property. Otherwise, we may require additional information and steps to verify property ownership. 

Select “Calculate Savings” to continue. Note: We will only be able to show a savings estimate if you select an APN match from our search. 
Continue signing up by answering the questions as prompted. The questions vary depending on property type and location.

Make it official by digitally signing the Ownwell Service and Authorization Agreements. To sign on a desktop or laptop computer, hold down your mouse or trackpad and draw your signature. To sign on a mobile device, use your finger to draw your signature.Having trouble signing? We require a certain amount of complexity for a signature to be accepted. Keep drawing to complete the signature.


Your property is officially signed up! If you are signing up for the first time, be sure to confirm your email address by entering the confirmation code sent to your email when prompted.

Continue from here by setting a password for your personalized property portal and then complete your annual property survey


 
keywords: parcel number, APN

How do I sign up with a Parcel Number or APN?

Signing up to appeal with Ownwell is easy! After you sign up, we recommend creating a property portal account and completing your annual property survey. Customers who complete their yearly survey save 34% more on average. 
 
Follow these steps to sign up a property to appeal with Ownwell:

Select “Start Your Appeal” in the upper right corner of the website on your desktop or select the three lines in the upper right on your mobile device then select “Start Your Appeal” at the button of the menu.

 Enter your address. We recommend selecting your address from our list if it comes up in search, so we can accurately match your address to the correct property. If you do not have an address or know your APN, follow our instructions for signing up with a Parcel Number.

Answer the questions as prompted. The questions vary depending on property type and location. 

Make it official by digitally signing the Ownwell Service and Authorization Agreements. To sign on a desktop or laptop computer, hold down your mouse or trackpad and draw your signature. To sign on a mobile device, use your finger to draw your signature.Having trouble signing? We require a certain amount of complexity for a signature to be accepted. Keep drawing to complete the signature.


 Your property is officially signed up! If you are signing up for the first time, be sure to confirm your email address by entering the confirmation code sent to your email when prompted.

Continue from here by setting a password for your personalized property portal and then complete your annual property survey.


 
 
keywords: sign up, create account, membership
 
 

How do I sign up to appeal my property with Ownwell?

For income-producing properties, we typically need more information to fully evaluate your property for an appeal. To move forward with your appeal, we need:

Previous Year Rent Roll by Unit, by Month
Previous Year Profit &amp; Loss Statement

The information you provide will be used to create an income valuation model, which adds context to our own data, and strengthens our case for earning you a property tax reduction. Without it, we may be unable to earn you a reduction.
 
Don’t have this information readily available? No problem! We’ve made templates that are easy to use and usually take just a few minutes to complete using the information you probably have on hand already. View templates here.
 
Follow our document upload article for guidance on uploading the documents in your property portal.

How do I upload income information?

If you recently purchased a property and the county assessor does not know the purchase price, they will assume the purchase price is higher than your assessment. This can make it difficult to earn a tax reduction. By uploading your closing documents, we can fight to lower your assessment to your purchase price. We will never share documents with the assessor’s office that hurts your chance of a tax reduction.
Uploaded closing documents must include: 

Property Purchase Price
Date of the sale (typically your closing date)
Signature of Buyer
Realtor Commissions

Follow our document upload article for guidance on uploading the documents in your property portal.
 
 
keywords: closing documents

How do I upload closing documents?

Uploading evidence to your Property Portal is one of the best ways to help Ownwell’s property tax professionals improve your case for a property tax assessment reduction. For appeals related to recently purchased properties, investment properties, or properties with damage or deferred maintenance, the evidence you upload can be the difference-maker, and significantly improves Ownwell’s chances of getting you a property tax reduction.
We recommend starting with your annual property survey where we guide you through the most common types of evidence and property information we use to save our customers money each year. View our article on how to complete your annual property survey. 
 
For any documents you’d like to upload outside of the property survey, follow these steps:



 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.

 Once in your portal, click on “Documents” in the navigation on the left side of the page, towards the bottom.

 Start by selecting a property and document type. Then select which files you’d like to upload and click “Upload” once the files are attached. We advise uploading documents in batches based on the property type. 

 You’ll see a notification pop-up in the top right corner that confirms your documents have been uploaded.

You can see previously uploaded documents, including any documents you uploaded as part of the property survey, in the “View Documents” section at the bottom of the Documents page.



Ownwell’s property tax experts will review the uploads to use in your case for a property tax assessment reduction.
 
 
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How do I upload documents?

Your personalized property portal is great for:


Monitoring the live progress of your appeal
Completing your annual property survey
Uploading and retrieving necessary files and documents
Learning more about your property and potential savings


Before you can claim an account, you need to sign up at least one property for Ownwell’s property tax appeal service by going to “Start Your Appeal” in the upper right corner. From there we make it super easy to set a password and access your property portal. 
 
If you already have a property signed up, but do not have a property portal account follow these steps:



 Navigate to our Claim Account page directly at ownwell.com/claim. Or Click “Sign In” in the ownwell.com header, navigate to the bottom of the page, and click “Claim Account”. 

Enter the email address you used when signing up your property.
Check that same email address for an email from Ownwell. In the email click “Set Password”. If you didn’t receive an email, check your spam folder and allow up to five minutes for the email to arrive. If you are still having trouble, submit a request. 

 Set a password that’s at least 8 characters long and click “Sign In”.
Explore your new property portal! If no properties are listed, you may have used another email to sign up. Please try an alternative email address to create a property portal account.


 
 
keywords: how do I claim my property portal?

How do I claim my account?

Customers who complete their annual property survey save 34% more on average. In the annual property survey, we ask a variety of questions that cover the most common types of assessment reductions that can be used to save our customers money each year. 
 
Follow these steps to complete your annual property survey:
Immediately after sign up:

 Start by signing up a property at ownwell.com/appeal.
 From the appeal signup confirmation page, select “Next” to create a property portal account by setting a password. If you already have an account, select “Sign into Property Portal”. 
 Once signed into the property portal, you will be immediately taken to the introduction page for the property survey. If you are not immediately taken to the property survey, following the steps from completing the survey from the property portal in the next section.
 Continue through the survey from here. Following the guidelines from gathering the most effective evidence listed further in this article. 

From your property portal:


 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.


Once in your portal, select the property you would like to complete the survey for under “My Properties”. 


 If you haven’t completed your annual property survey, there will be a banner at the top of your individual property dashboard. Click “Maximize Savings” to begin the survey. You can also click the “Complete Survey” link in the appeal box.


 You can go back through the survey as many times as you’d like up until your hearing. You can find the completed survey by navigating to the bottom right of an individual property’s dashboard.


When completing your survey, make sure to follow our guidelines for gathering the most effective evidence. The more compelling evidence of damage, deferred maintenance, or adverse conditions at your property, the more likely we are to get a tax reduction on your behalf.
 
Below are a few Do’s and Don’t for gathering the most effective evidence:
Do’s

Upload bids, quotes, insurance claims, or construction receipts for damage
Take photos that provide context and show the full extent of the damage
Include dates on photos, documents, and other evidence
Provide evidence of any structural damage

Don’ts

Describe the damage without providing evidence
Include landscaping or fence damage — the county does not count this
Upload minor wear and tear at your property
Rely on damages where the cost of repair is less than $3,000

 
 
keywords: property survey

How do I complete the annual property survey?

We utilize several unique data sources to validate property characteristics, but they aren’t always up to date. You know your property best. Fixing incorrect information or adding new details about your property can help Ownwell’s property tax professionals improve your case for a property tax assessment reduction. If you are correcting or adding major details like purchase date/price, square footage, or property type, we encourage you to upload evidence that can support the correction to the documents tab.
 
To update your property details, follow the steps below: 


 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.


 Once in your portal, select the property you would like to edit under “My Properties”. 


 At the top of the individual property dashboard, you’ll see a summary of your property details. Select “View More Details” in the bottom right corner to expand this section.


 To continue to edit or add details, click “Edit Property Details” and make any changes or additions you’d like.

 Make sure to save the changes by clicking “Save Changes” at the bottom of this page.


How do I edit or change details about my property?

To sign up on behalf of a property owner, you will need to provide the signed Power of Attorney document or a signed affidavit in the case of a caretaker. After you have completed the sign up process, please upload the necessary document(s) to your Ownwell property portal. 

What is needed to sign up if I have Power of Attorney or I am the caretaker for the property owner? 

In most cases, there is a specific deadline for appealing property taxes. This deadline is usually set by the local government or tax assessor's office and is typically within a certain number of days after the property tax bill is issued. If you miss this deadline, you may not be able to protest your property taxes.
However, there may be some circumstances under which you can still appeal your property taxes even if the deadline has passed. For example, if you can demonstrate that you had a good reason for not being able to appeal your property taxes by the deadline (such as a medical emergency or other unforeseen circumstance), the local government or tax assessor's office may allow you to file an appeal on your property taxes even if the deadline has passed.
It is important to keep in mind that each jurisdiction has its own rules and procedures for appealing property taxes, so it is best to check with your local government or tax assessor's office to determine what options may be available to you if you have missed the deadline. 
 
 
keywords: deadline

Can I still file an appeal if it's past the deadline? 

If a property owner is successful in their appeal and the value of their property is reduced, they may be entitled to a property tax refund. The process for issuing property tax refunds varies by jurisdiction, but generally involves the following steps:

The county appraisal district or local government agency responsible for property taxation will determine the amount of the refund based on the reduced value of the property.

The agency will issue a refund check to the property owner or if the property owner's taxes are paid through an Escrow, the refund will be issued back to the Escrow account.

If the property owner has already paid their property taxes in full, the refund check will be mailed to them. If the property owner is paying their taxes in installments, the refund may be applied to their remaining payments or credited to their account for future tax payments

It is important to note that property tax refunds may be subject to state and federal income taxes, depending on the jurisdiction and the circumstances of the refund. Property owners should consult with a tax professional or refer to their local tax authority for guidance on how property tax refunds are taxed.

How are refunds issued from the county? 

*For the reasons referenced below, it is of the utmost importance for owners of income-producing properties to upload a profit and loss statement and rent roll for the applicable tax year to their Ownwell property portal*
There are three primary approaches to value in real estate (income, sales comparison, and cost). The income approach is often used to value income-producing properties and can provide a more accurate estimate of a property's value than other methods, such as the cost approach or the sales comparison approach, which do not consider the property's income-generating potential.
The income approach is a method used to value properties that generate income, such as rental properties, commercial buildings, and businesses. It involves estimating the value of a property based on the income it is expected to generate over a certain period.
To value a property using the income approach, an appraiser will typically consider factors such as the property's rental income, operating expenses, and vacancy rate. For property tax purposes, these figures should be relevant to the tax year in question. They will then use these factors to estimate the property's net operating income (NOI), which is the property's income after operating expenses have been deducted.
The value of the property is then determined by applying a capitalization rate, also known as a "cap rate," to the NOI. The cap rate is a measure of the rate of return on the investment and is calculated by dividing the NOI by the property's current market value.

Can my time-share be valued based on the income approach?

Yes, it can! Time-shares can be complex assets to value, as they often involve a shared ownership arrangement and may have unique features and operating costs. While time shares are most often valued based on the sales comparison approach, income analysis can still prove useful in determining the opinion of value as either primary or supplemental evidence. 

Can my AirBnB be valued based on the income approach?

Yes, it can! Though it is important to note that the income approach is just one method that can be used to value an AirBnB. Other methods, such as the sales comparison approach or the cost approach, may also be used depending on the specific circumstances of the property and the purpose of the valuation. It is also important to consider other factors, such as the location and condition of the property, when determining its value. Nevertheless, the income approach does prove useful in determining the opinion of value as either primary or supplementary evidence.
 
 
keywords: investment property, income producing property, 
 

What should I know before signing up an income-producing property (timeshares, Airbnb, commercial buildings, etc)?

Property tax consultants will evaluate the property prior to filing an appeal. During the process of evaluating the property, the Property Tax Consultant may reject an appeal. Reasons will vary depending on the property. To name a few, a property might be under-assessed or fairly assessed and not have a good chance of getting a tax reduction. In some states, there is a risk of an increased value, so the Property Tax Consultant may reject after reviewing relevant market data. Other reasons include: past appeal filing deadline (customer signed up after the deadline), business personal property, and change of ownership (owner sold property and we are no longer authorized as agents).

Why did my appeal get rejected?

We currently operate in Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Illinois and New York. 
If you're property is located in one of these states, try putting your address into the Ownwell estimator at https://www.ownwell.com/ to see how much you could save today!
 
 
keywords: where do you operate, states of operation, service area

What states are you located in? 

Yes, all Ownwell Property Tax Consultants must have a certification in appraisal or hold a license in property tax or real estate. 

Does the specialist representing me have any certifications or licenses? 

Each month when you pay your mortgage, a portion of that payment is set aside for your tax bill. When your county sends out the new tax notices and the final bill for the year, these will be based on the final assessed value we attained from your appeal. At that time your mortgage company will pay the taxes now owed from your escrow account and they will adjust that account according to the results of this appeal. Depending on how your taxes have changed from the previous year this could potentially either raise or lower the amount that you pay to your escrow account with your mortgage company each month, but that will be determined by them and they will notify you about this as soon as they have all of the calculations done. You can still see these values updated online through the county portal (you may not receive the notice, as the mortgage company or bank usually gets it).
 
 

How does it work if I pay my taxes through an escrow? 

Yes, we recommend you still appeal your property taxes. The title company will prorate your taxes based on the last certified value.  If we successfully reduce your property tax bill, you will still be responsible for your Ownwell invoice regardless of the date of sale. 
It is important that you contact us If the appeal has not been completed at the time of sale and ownership of the property has changed.
 

If I plan on selling my property should I still file an appeal? 

Yes, we encourage all of our customers to pay their property taxes in full and on time. If your account becomes delinquent, the county has the right to dismiss your appeal without review. Upon a successful appeal, you will receive a refund for any overpaid taxes.
 

Should I pay my tax bill if it arrives before my appeal is complete? 

An Arm's Length Transaction is a transaction between unrelated parties who are each acting in his or her own best interest. Market value is based on the buyers and sellers being typically motivated, well-informed, and acting in their best interest. For this type of transaction, the property is exposed on the market for a reasonable length of time and payment is in cash or its equivalent, and the property sold is unaffected by the special or creative financing or sales concessions. 

What is an Arm's Length Transaction? 

Yes, in the market areas we serve, we have a dedicated Property Tax Consultant that is physically present in the market they are servicing. The specialist assigned to your property has the necessary geographical competence to provide exemplary service! 

Is my Property Tax Consultant local to my area? 

We do not currently offer any discounts but with our Savings-or-Free guarantee, you will not pay any fee if we don't successfully lower your property taxes, and our contingency fees are some of the lowest in the industry. Additionally, once you have signed up, you can refer a friend with your personal invite code found in your property portal. Once your referral has signed up, you'll both receive a $20 credit on your Ownwell account! 
 
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Does Ownwell offer any discounts?

If you are having issues with submitting a signature or signing the required documents electronically, please follow these steps:1. The signature must have enough pixels to register. Often, you can draw a bigger signature, or with more lines on it. Continue drawing your signature until it lets you submit.2. If this doesn’t work or the issue is different, close your internet browser, open a new window, and go to Ownwell.com again.3. If you are on a computer, try on a smartphone or tablet (or vice versa).4. If you are still unable to sign: It's possible you are trying to sign on the pop up PDF Contract. Sometimes customers click on "Preview Agreement", which opens a new window that cannot be signed in. Confirm you're not doing this and instead make sure you are electronically signing on the last part of the sign up flow. 
 
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Why can't I get the signature to work on the sign up page? 

Per the service agreement, the tax rate will be the previous year's rate since the current year's rate is typically unavailable at invoicing. Additionally, if you have exemptions, this will be reflected in the invoicing rate and it will be different than the county tax rate. 

Why is the tax rate on my invoice different than the county? 

Per the service agreement, the tax rate used will be the last known tax rate at the time that services are completed.

What tax rate do you use when you bill me? 

While you do have the right to attend your hearing, it is not required or recommended. We will review, prepare, and negotiate the appeal with the county appraisal district and review board on your behalf. It is not uncommon for the hearing date and time to change, and often we are not aware of this in advance so we will not be able to communicate these changes to you. 
 
keywords: hearing date status

Do I need to attend my hearing? 

Since the documents we file to the county on your behalf require an electronic signature, all sign-ups must be completed at www.ownwell.com. The process is quick and easy and we have Customer Care Specialists available to answer any questions along the way!
 
 
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Can I sign up over the phone? 

We use a private national data provider that cross-references with county recorder’s offices to verify ownership. In the event our system is unable to verify the property, our team will take further steps to investigate ownership and reach out to the customer for confirmation. 

How do you verify property ownership? 

While there is little to no risk in appealing property taxes, please see below for further guidance in your state.
 
Texas No, there is no risk to protesting in Texas. Texas law prohibits increases in the taxable value of a property due to a protest/appeal being filed. 
 
CaliforniaNo, there is no risk to appeal in California. The taxable value of a property cannot be increased as a result of the appeal due to Proposition 13 preventing values from going up more than 2% per year. 
 
New YorkNo, there is no risk to protesting in New York. New York law prohibits increases in the assessed value of a property due to a Grievance being filed.
 
FloridaNo, there is no risk to appealing in Florida. A property’s value can only be increased if the property owner requests it to be.
 
WashingtonYes, there is some risk and a possibility the property's taxable value can be increased as a result of an appeal being filed. However, we review all the relevant market data before filing the appeal and once again before the hearing. If we believe there is any risk of an increased value, we will choose not to file the appeal or withdraw the appeal if it has been filed. 
 
GeorgiaYes, there is some risk and a possibility the property's taxable value can be increased as a result of an appeal being filed. However, we review all the relevant market data before filing the appeal and once again before the hearing. If we believe there is any risk of an increased value, we will choose not to file the appeal or withdraw the appeal if it has been filed. 
 
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Is there any risk that my property value increases if I appeal? 

Once the appeal is complete and we’re notified that an appeal was successful, we notify the property owner of the outcome and calculate the amount saved. Any savings achieved are sent directly to the property owner, so we’ll send an electronic invoice for payment. 
 

How do you get paid?

Our contingency fee is applied to actual property tax savings in the year we appeal. If you have an active homestead exemption, over 65 exemption, or any other tax exemption applied to your property, we will adjust your final fee by the appropriate discounted amount. You will never be charged for a reduction in your assessed value if your final tax bill is not reduced. You won't be charged unless your final property tax bill is actually reduced, and we have a signed document from your taxing authority to prove it.
 
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How are tax exemptions taken into account?

Our contingency fee is applied to actual property tax savings in the year we appeal. For instance, if your property tax bill is reduced from $5,000 to $4,000 our fee will be applied to the $1,000 difference. 
Please visit our Pricing Page to verify fees in your area.
 
keywords: contingency fee

How is your fee calculated?

There are no up-front or hidden costs for using our service, and you only pay when we successfully reduce your property tax bill. Upon completion of the appeal, we will send the invoice to the email address we have on file. 
 
keywords: pay my bill 

When do I pay? Do I have to pay anything up-front?

We manage the end-to-end process of property tax reduction, from paperwork filing to discussions with county assessors and attending appeal board hearings. We use a combination of proprietary technology and local knowledge to build the best evidence to reduce property taxes.

How do you lower my taxes?

On average, single family homeowners that earn a reduction typically save about $1,100 per year through our service  Try out our savings calculator to see how much you could save. Real Estate Investors can contact our sales team for an in-depth analysis.

How much can I save?

There are no upfront costs, and we charge a contingency fee on the savings we earn you after we save you money on your next property tax bill. 
With our savings-or-free guarantee, you will only be charged if we are successful in achieving savings. 
Due to different filing requirements, our contingency fee varies by state. 
Please visit our Pricing Page to verify fees in your area.
 
 

How much do you charge?

While there is no one size fits all approach to calculating property taxes, in every state your property's assessed or fair market value is used to establish the initial value that your property will be taxed on. Depending on the state and/or your exemptions, you may receive an additional reduction to this value before the tax or levy/millage rate is factored in. Typically you can find you the tax or levy/millage rate on your property assessment notice or on the county appraisal districts website. 
Once you have your assessed or fair market value (minus any applicable exemptions or reductions) and the tax or levy/millage rate, covert this rate into a percentage if it hasn't been converted already and then multiply your assessed value by the tax rate. This will give you the dollar amount you owe in taxes. 
Below are a few different examples of how property taxes are calculated in different a few different states. 
How to Calculate Property Taxes in Texas
FORMULA
Assessed Value - Exemptions =Taxable Value
Taxable Value x Tax Rate =Property Tax Total
 
How to Calculate Property Taxes in Georgia
STEP 1
Fair Market Value x 40%= Assessed Value
STEP 2
Assessed Value - Exemptions= Taxable Value
STEP 3
Taxable Value x Tax Rate= Taxes Due
 
How to Calculate Property Taxes in Washington
FORMULA
Assessed Value x Levy Rate =Tax Liability
Assessed Value = Value determined by county assessor
Levy Rate = Dollar amount per $1,00 of assessed value

How are property taxes calculated?

Much like tax rates, the way property is assessed differs by county. However, while the way counties assess property might differ slightly, nearly all appraisal districts use mass appraisal technology to generate values for property as well as some variation of the following appraisal methods. 
 
Sales Comparison (Market) Approach:
Often referred to as the “Sales Comparison”, “Sales Comps”, or “Market Approach”, this approach determines a property’s value based on recent sales prices of similar properties in the area. This value is adjusted to fit differences in characteristics between the “subject property” (the property being appraised) and nearby recent sales. This is the most common approach for assessing the value of residential properties. 
Income Approach:
The Income Approach is commonly used to value multifamily, commercial, and agricultural real estate. This approach uses a property’s income and expense information to determine its current value based on its income-producing potential. Values indicated by the income approach are based on what an investor would be willing to pay for a property based on its anticipated future revenue streams.
Cost Approach:
The Cost Approach bases a property's value on its replacement costs. These replacement costs refer to the cost to replace the building with a similar improvement while maintaining equal utility. Depreciation may be applied, along with an estimate to account for land value. This approach is most commonly used to value properties which are under construction, have recently completed construction, are not yet occupied by tenants, or are otherwise difficult to value using the other approaches.
 
Mass Appraisal:
“Mass appraisal” refers to the processes used by Appraisal Districts to appraise real estate (for tax purposes) at scale. The processes use individual property characteristics, neighborhood-specific information, available sales data, and more to create statistical models for property values.
CADs are therefore required to follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice when using mass appraisal technology to ensure that the same appraisal methods and techniques are used to assess similar properties. Since counties are legally obligated to appraise property values most CADs use mass appraisal technology to efficiently assess the value of properties within their county.
 

How does the county assess my property?

The Assessment Notice:
The very first step to appealing your property taxes is getting your assessment. An official assessment notice by the county gives property owners the exact value in which their property will be taxed. Once you know this value, you or your property tax professional will have the most important piece of information necessary for building an appeal. In this tutorial we will cover what key information to look for when you receive your assessment notice, as well as what each value means in terms of your overall tax burden. 
Note: This assessment notice is from Harris County Texas. You assessment notice may differ in format or in the amount of information shared on assessment. This tutorial is intended to cover the basic information typically seen on assessment notices. For county specific questions about your assessment notice, please reach out to your local county appraisal district for clarification.  
 
Account Number/Property ID:
Every property and plot of land within county lines is assigned an account number or property ID by the CAD to identify the exact property for taxation purposes. This system helps the county keep track of all the properties in its taxing area and ensures that they make assessments on the correct property. For property owners, your account number is useful to have because you can use it to verify if the county properly ID'd your property when making its assessment, and it also allows for you to check your assessment and taxation information on the CADs website. 
 
Market Value:
The market value is the value in which the CAD believes your property would sell for on the open market based on market trends as of January 1st of the taxable year. Your market value will almost always be higher than your appraised value. If your appraised value is higher than your market value then you will have very strong case for receiving a reduction on your property taxes by appealing. 
 
Appraised Value:
The appraised value is the value that your property will be taxed on. While market value factors in pricing influxes and irrational purchasing behaviors within the housing market, the appraised value is based on the value in which a property would be expected to sell for within a reasonable amount of time to find a buyer, given both the seller and buyer are looking to maximize their gains in this transaction. The CAD typically uses one of three major approaches for assessing your property. These approaches are sales comparisons, income, or cost approach. 
Since fluctuating market pressures don't apply to appraised value, it frequently is lower than the market value. While this value is lower, it does not mean that your property's value on the open market is lower too. The appraised value also does not factor in any exemptions you have on your property taxes such as general homestead, age 65 or older, or disability exemptions. 
 
Appeal/Protest Deadline: 
This is an important date to make note of since it is highly rare for CADs to accept appeals after the deadline. Deadlines and submission windows differ from county to county so make sure that you pay special attention to this information to ensure you don't miss your chance to appeal. The standard timeframe to submit an appeal is typically within 30 days of the post marked date of the assessment notice. However, depending on your county or state this timeline can be anywhere from 25 to 60 days. If you intended to appeal your property taxes, it's better to file for an appeal as soon as possible. 
 

Taxing Jurisdiction: 
These are all the taxing units within your county that receive funding from your property taxes. Each unit has a specific percentage they take off your properties value for taxes. Depending on the state of your exemptions, they may only be able to base their taxes of a predetermined lower taxable value such as those put in place by a homestead exemption. That is why in this example Harris County can only base its taxes off a taxable value of $215,664 when this property's appraised value was $269,580.   
 
Taxing Units: 
While all the taxing units should be listed in the Taxing Jurisdiction or comparable section of your assessment notice, the rate in which you will be taxed by each unit is not always listed. This is typically due to the tax rates being approved after the appraised values have already been determined. Fortunately, these values can be found in your local CADs Truth in Taxation website. 
 
Exemption Amounts:
These are the amounts that can be subtracted from your appraised value prior to being taxed by the taxing unit. Exemptions are not always uniform across all units so it is important to factor this in when calculating your taxes. 
Note: These are only applicable for properties that have been granted some form of exemptions. 

Calculating your property taxes:
Much like this assessment notice, more often than not your assessment notice will not include the actual dollar amount you will owe in property taxes. Fortunately, calculating them can be relatively easy.  Using the information you have on your assessment, go on to the CADs website and look up your property. Under your account they should have the tax rate from each taxing unit, if they do not have these rates go to your CADs truth in taxation website to look them up. Once you have these values, convert them into percentages then multiply the taxable value after exemptions by this percentage for each taxing unit. Add up the total values for each taxing unit to get your property tax amount.
Note: In some instances the most recent years tax rate might not be posted online yet. In this situation just multiply last years tax rate by this years assessment values then add an extra 7-10% on to that value to get a rough estimate of what you can expect to pay in taxes for the current tax year. 
 



Taxing Jurisdiction
This Years Value After Exemptions 
Tax Rate
Total


Alief ISD
$244,580
1.204800
$2,946.70



Harris County

$215,664
0.376930
$812.90


Harris Co Flood Cntrl
$215,664
0.033490
$72.23


Port of Houston Authy
$215,664
0.008720
$18.81


Harris Co Hosp Dist
$215,664
0.162210
$349.83


Harris Co Educ Dept
$215,664
0.004990
$10.76


Hou Community College 
$229,143
0.099092
$227.06


City of Houston
$215,664
0.550830
$1,187.94


 
 
 
$5,625.23




How to read my property assessment notice?

Need to submit an appeal request for more properties? With Ownwell's Property Portal, adding additional properties to your account is now easier than ever before and there is no limit to the number of properties you can have. 
Note: Real Estate Investors, please click here: submit a request to contact our sales team.
 
Step 1: Start by signing in to your account on Ownwell.com and select the "Add Another Property" button at the top of the page.
Step 2: Type in the address to the property you would like to add to your account.
Step 3: Review your savings estimate, and verify the property information that appears is accurate.
Step 4:Provide property owner details. 
Note: To ensure your appeal is processed accurately and in a timely manner, please provide the owner, trust, or LLC’s name as it appears on the property tax bill and county assessor's records. 
Step 5: Review our service agreement. When you’re ready, use the signature box to sign your name and complete sign up. 
Note: If you're using a touchscreen computer, tablet, or mobile phone you can sign using your finger or a stylus. For all other devices, like desktop and laptop computers, hold down the left-click button on your mouse or touchpad and drag the cursor to sign your name.
Step 6: Provide additional information about the property to help us earn you more savings.
 
Following submission, return to the Property Portal to confirm that your newly added property appears in the "Your Properties" section. 
 
 
 
keywords: additional properties, how many properties, multiple properties, investors

How do I add additional properties?

When working with the County Appraiser's office, it's vital to have the most accurate information possible to improve your chances at receiving a reduction. Due to this, we make sure that your account has everything necessary to build a strong appeal. Occasionally we will need documents or information from you to ensure that we can manage your appeal. We will always reach out to you by email with requests for further documentation or updated information. Below are the most common instances where an "Information Required" alert will appear on your property portal. If you don't see one of the reasons below in your property portal, please reach out to our Customer Experience Team.
Owner/Property Verification Needed:
This typically occurs when your name does not match the name of the property owner on record in the county tax system. This issue can typically be resolved by uploading a copy of your assessment value notice you received from the county for this property to our property portal. In some instances, if you recently purchased a property, you will have to call the county and request a record update for the property. Without your name officially connected to the property in the county system we will not be able to appeal your property taxes.  
Verification Re-Sign Needed: 
Often this alert is triggered when you have signed up for an appeal with a name that doesn't quite match what is listed in the county record, such as signing as yourself when the property is owner is listed as an LLC or is in the name of a spouse or family member. Fortunately, these are easy fixes and you'll just need to re-sign the authorization exactly as listed by the county if you are the listed owner. If your spouse or family members name is on record, we will need them to sign the authorization document.  
Expired Authorization Re-Sign Needed:
Most counties have expiration dates for authorization forms on record. If you've been a customer with us for a few years, you may be asked by the county to sign a new authorization form to verify that we are still your agent on file. We will send you this reauthorization form through email. 
Trust Documents Needed:
Frequently we handle appeals that are owned by trusts. While this is not typically an issue, occasionally we receive push back from the county on an individual's association with a trust. Often the solution for this is to submit a notarized copy of the Certificate of Trust, ideally with your name and the name of the trust clearly visible on the certificate.   
Closing Disclosure Needed:
If a property was recently purchased, including a closing disclosure with your appeal can be helpful evidence in getting a reduction. When uploading the closing disclosure, please be sure to provide all 5 pages which should include: the property owner's address, sale price, realtor details: seller and buyer information, real estate commission, and signed signature page. 
Income Information Needed:
For revenue producing property or properties, the county may require your to include financial information for your appeal. This may include information such as Rent Roll by Unit, by month and/or a Profit and Loss statement for the taxation year. 
Proof of authorization needed (Company/Entity):
When authorizing Ownwell to appeal property taxes for businesses, the county may require proof of authorization of the individual signing up for services if their name is not attached to the tax records with the county. For requests like these, we find that a signed Power of Attorney, property management agreement, or service agreement designating your authority and containing a signature from the property owner is usually sufficient evidence of your association.
Property Improvement Costs:
If any improvements have been made to the property between the period beginning January 1, of the tax year and December 31, of the tax year then we'll need you to upload any quotes and invoices you have for any construction performed on the property during this timespan. This helps us with building your appeal and proving inaccurate assessment of your property during this timespan. 
Suspected Deferred Maintenance:
Property damage and deferred maintenance are great ways to support claims of over assessment by highlighting aspects of the property that are in bad condition but may have been appraised under the assumption that they were in normal condition. In this situation we'll need you to upload photos and descriptions of the damage to the property, as well as any quotes or invoices you have received regarding any needed work or repairs. 
 
 
keywords: information required, needs attention
 
 

My account says information required or needs attention. What does that mean?

A property tax appeal (also known as a property tax protest or grievance) is the process of disputing a property's value with the relevant tax assessor, usually with the goal to reduce property taxes.
The steps taken to reduce a property's tax assessment vary widely across states and counties, but almost all property tax jurisdictions have a process for contesting a property's taxable value.

What is a property tax appeal?

An increase in either your property's tax assessment or your property tax rate can increase your tax bill. In this scenario, it is likely that your local tax rate went up. Property tax rates are set by local legislation, so remember to vote!

My tax assessment went down, so why did my taxes go up?

A property’s "assessed value" reflects its taxable value for property tax purposes. This taxable value is based on one or more of the following valuation approaches: comparable sales (Market Value), replacement cost (Cost), and rental value (Income).
 
 

What is a "property tax assessment" and how is it determined?

Ownwell's technology platform performs a robust comparative market analysis to determine your savings estimate. Actual savings may vary depending on individual circumstances and additional information that may support a larger reduction, such as property damage, deferred maintenance, etc. 

How are savings estimates calculated?

How do I pause or cancel my service with Ownwell? 
After signing up, Ownwell will automatically monitor your property taxes and appeal whenever there is an opportunity to save. We will always notify you at the beginning of the tax season before filing an appeal on your behalf. Should you change your mind, you may change this preference at any time in your property portal. 
Note that if we have already earned a reduction for you this year, any outstanding balance for services already performed will still apply.
There are two ways to edit your service with Ownwell:


Deactivate Auto-Appeal – By deactivating Auto-Appeal, Ownwell will not automatically monitor your property taxes and appeal on your behalf. A currently active appeal will stay active. This option is always available and you can reactivate Auto-Appeal at any time.


Cancel Current Appeal – A current appeal can only be canceled 2 months before the county deadline. Again, we will always notify you at the beginning of the tax season before filing an appeal on your behalf.


To cancel your service with Ownwell, follow these steps:

Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.

Once in your portal, click on “All Properties” in the top bar.  
Click the menu with the three dots for the property you’d like to modify and make updates accordingly.

keywords: discontinue, withdraw, end contract, cancel, terminate, close account, quit, stop appeal, unsubscribe

How can I pause or cancel my service with Ownwell?

Appeals are submitted before the county deadline. Once submitted, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the capacity and responsiveness of your county's tax assessor.

How long does the whole process take?

Each appeal is individually assembled by our expert team using all relevant and available information about your property and local real estate market. We guarantee your appeal will be submitted before your appeal deadline.

How quickly will my appeal be filed?

Ownwell customers benefit from Auto Appeal, our complimentary property tax monitoring service. We continuously monitor your property taxes and automatically appeal whenever there is an opportunity to save. We charge a commission on savings only for the years we successfully reduce your taxes.
 
keywords: auto appeal, automatic appeal, future assessments, property tax monitoring 

What is Auto Appeal?

There are no upfront costs, and we charge a contingency fee on the savings we earn you after we save you money on your next property tax bill. 
With our savings-or-free guarantee, you will only be charged if we are successful in achieving savings. 
 
Please visit our Pricing Page to verify fees in your area. 
 

What are your fees? How does pricing work?

Ownwell specializes in property tax reduction for homeowners, small businesses, and real estate investors. To help save you money on property taxes Ownwell will:

Evaluate your current assessment for errors and available exemptions.
Perform a comparative market analysis to see if your property has been overassessed.
Prepare and file evidence supporting an assessment reduction with your county tax assessor.
File county-specific appeal documents with the relevant assessment review board.
Represent you in hearings with your tax assessor and present your case for a tax reduction.
Negotiate an assessment reduction with your county assessor or assessment board.

After completing your assessment appeal we'll continue to monitor your property's future assessments. If your taxes increase, or you become overassessed again, we'll notify you and prepare a new appeal to lower your property tax assessment.
 
 
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What does Ownwell do?

We get to work on your property tax appeal as soon as you finish submitting your property information on our website. Once we've generated and submitted your appeal to your county tax assessor, it may take several months for us to receive a response, and for them to schedule an appointment with us to hear your case.
While we can't control how long it takes your tax assessor to respond to our appeal, we can provide you with as much information as possible about the current status of your protest. 
 
Follow these steps to check the status of your appeal:


 Sign into your property portal at ownwell.com/sign-in.Not familiar with Ownwell’s property portal? Learn how to claim your account here.


 Once in your portal, select the property you would like to check under “My Properties”. 

 Navigate down to the appeal status section under your property characteristics summary to see the current status of your appeal. If you're looking for a previous appeal (last years or older) you can change the year at the top right corner of the Appeal Status section to the desired year if one exists.


Note: If you see that any information is needed, please address these issues immediately so our property tax experts can continue with your appeal. If your appeal status has not changed in a while, please be patient. The county tax assessor may take several months to give us a response. 
 
keywords: status, status of appeal, still waiting, status of your appeals, results, delays, previous appeals

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