Anyone ever sue the Tax Appraisal District?

[8mpg]

To preface this, Im not big into litigation or anything but I have started to wonder if their method needs a hardcore adjustment. I feel like people are really being screwed outside of protesting and with protesting their assessment. My case:

I have a home lot that was valued at $92k for the last 3 years as that was the purchase price (foreclosed). This year, they drove it up to $450k. Their great letter shows it went up 160% from 2011 but neglects it went up 350% since last year. Today we had our hearing and we were able to get it lowered in line with other comps in the area of $270k. Their assessment comprised of comps in another city, comps that were from 2014 and comps of a neighborhood with home values in the $2-3MM range. Our lot is in a neighborhood in the $600k range.

I feel like they are wrong on many fronts. First I believe they are using an automated system to pull comps. This system pulled comps for my property and who knows how many hundreds of others comps from another city. They are also not comparing apples to apples. Also, the system couldnt find anything newer than 23-30 months old? I had 4 comps pulled in my city within the last 180 days by my Realtor. I feel like their system is set up to cherry pick old comps to intentionally screw people, and throw out any comps that dont fit their agenda. Also, since I protested and got my value down $180k, that value wont roll over to all the people around me who didnt protest. How is this right?

I feel like there should be a class action lawsuit against my appraisal district based on how they are rating comps and how they dont fix everyones properties around that were based upon horrible comps.

Anyone ever look into this? Im thinking of writing all of my neighbors in the area to try and put something together.

[black2002ls]

I doubt it is just your appraisal district. My tax assessment increased 10K with no discernible improvements to the lot/structure. My protest this year was a friggin' waste of time. Granted, I am in a much cheaper market, however, I am sure the practices are pretty universal.

[kingjason]

It was like a fucking time share meeting. I think it is a total bunch of shit, however, people are paying stupid money for houses out here. I paid 125k for mine in 2012 and Zillow has it at 192k at the end of the year. That is with out the kitchen remodel and patio I added. I thought about putting a must sell price on there of 220k just to see if I would get a bite. Then I would rent until the bubble busts and buy low again.

[likeitfast55]

I believe that they can only go up a certain percent per year. You might check on that.

[8mpg]

I believe that they can only go up a certain percent per year. You might check on that.

thats only for homesteaded properties

[David]

I just quit caring. They'll just fuck you out of it again next year and so on. A lawsuit won't change anything other than a judge agreeing or disagreeing with you. People generally dont "sue" the appraisal district, but the courts are another part of the appeal/dispute process. You need legislation.

[TexasDevilDog]

There are many lazy people counting on that tax base.

[LANTIRN]

Never sued them, but like the idea. You really should talk to a lawyer. I also hate how you get taxed on 3 or 4 different values as well. Hospital tax values your house at $180k, $192 for the schools, and then 3 or 4 others all with a different value. How can one house have 4 different taxable values, none of which seem realistic usually.

[8mpg]

Never sued them, but like the idea. You really should talk to a lawyer. I also hate how you get taxed on 3 or 4 different values as well. Hospital tax values your house at $180k, $192 for the schools, and then 3 or 4 others all with a different value. How can one house have 4 different taxable values, none of which seem realistic usually.

I could be wrong but those are because of exemptions. Each city does it different on how much you can homestead. In Keller, you get 25k off your house value for school taxes

[4king]

American government doesn't want you to own land, they tell you it's taxes but you're paying rent to use the land

[Broncojohnny]

You need a property tax consultant. People do sue the appraisal districts but generally the stakes need to be higher than a few thousand dollars for it to make sense. A good consultant here in Dallas is Marvin Poer, look them up on google and give them a call, they have handled a lot of commercial property contests for me in the past.