When should I appeal my property's assessed value?

Question: When should I appeal my property's assessed value?

Answer:

Dates are important when contesting a property assessment. You should receive the notice of assessment sometime in January or February from your local governmental authority, usually a city or township. It should contain information about the assessed (or S.E.V.) and taxable values. It should also contain information about appeal. Generally speaking, a city or township’s Board of Review meets in March. Check with the city or township government in which the property is located to get the exact dates in March and information about the petition process. Once the Board of Review adjourns, the taxable value is set for the year.

Note: Detroit is an exception to the March timetable because it added an additional level to the review/appeal process: the Board of Assessors Review in the first half of February. It is the necessary first stage of the process. If a property owner does not agree with the conclusion of the Board of Assessors, they can appeal to the March Board of Review like other Michigan Communities. Unfortunately, if the property owner misses the February window, they are out of luck.