Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge's real estate attorneys will host this seminar for property owners on how to navigate the property tax appeal process.

When:

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
5:15-5:30 - Registration
5:30-7:00 - Program
7:00-7:30 - Networking Reception

Where:

Hagerty Center at
Northwestern Michigan College
715 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686

Topics include:

Introduction: Understanding the Assessment Process and Valuation

This session will involve a brief discussion on the various values appearing on property tax statements, state equalized value (SEV), assessed value and taxable value; how they are adjusted, the importance of each, the tax day and the notion of true cash value.

Exemption Options: Homestead and Agricultural

By Lindsay M. Weber and Jonathan J. Siebers, Attorneys
The principal residence (homestead) exemption and the qualified agricultural property exemption exempt a residence from the tax levied by a local school district. Ensuring qualification of a residence for one of these exemptions can therefore provide a property owner with significant property tax savings. This presentation will delve into the requirements necessary to qualify a residence for these exemptions.

Transferring Property: Exceptions to the Uncapping Rule

By Robert W. Parker, Attorney
With the adoption of Proposal A in 1994, increases in a land parcel's taxable value were limited to the lesser of 5% or the rate of inflation. That is not the case for a parcel's state equalized value (SEV) which must reflect one-half of its true cash value. Because a parcel's taxable value is capped, over time the gap between its taxable value and its SEV has increased. When there is a transfer of the property, the property's taxable value in the year following the year of transfer is the property's SEV in the year of transfer. There are exceptions to this general rule and this presentation will focus on those exceptions.

Disputing an Assessment: The Appeals Process

By Gregory R. Kish, Attorney
Appealing a tax assessment can be as simple as a meeting at the township hall or as daunting as a trip to Lansing to visit the Michigan Tax Tribunal. The type, scope, and size of the appeal will dictate which avenue must be taken, which deadlines must be met, and what information must be provided. This presentation will provide an overview of the process ranging from informal discussions with a local assessor and a petition to the local Board of Review, to filing an appeal with the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

RSVP 

Please RSVP by February 15.  Click here to register now. To register by phone or email, please contact Keri Amlotte by email or at 231-929-4878.