How To Appeal Your Property Tax Value

In Sedgick County, almost 70% of homes will see an increase in their property values. The median increase is 6%, but I've heard from some clients of increases as much as 19%.

The property valuation is used to determine how much taxes are paid to the city, school district and also the county. Notices were sent the first week of March and homeowners have until April 1st to file an appeal. Informal hearings will begin March 20th.

Here's the question ~ Is your property tax value too high? Or too low? How do you know?

One way to find out is to check the value of other homes in your neighborhood. You can visit the City Of Wichita's website and do a search of property values of other similar homes.

https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/taxwebapp/realproperty.aspx

Another way is to have your real estate agent pull recent sold comps for you from the MLS. Please note that what a home sold for is NOT the same as what it's tax value is. Real estate has many values for many purposes. Think what you insured your home for - would you want that to be your mortgaged amount?

The reason you would ask an agent to pull sold comps for you is to find properties that are the most similar to yours - then search for their tax value at the above website. For example, my home is a ranch style with casement windows in the basement (non-escape.) My neighbor across the street has a split level home. My next door neighbor has a 2 story home with daylight windows. It would be an unfair comparison to use these three homes to determine the value because they are not alike. However, I know that there are dozens of other ranch homes that I can use in my search. Also, I want to find homes with the similar amenities: year built, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, garage space, square footage and lot size, to name a few.

If after you have done your research, you have determined that you want to appeal, here are the steps to proceed:

1) Sign the back of the Tax Valuation form and send it in by April 1st.

2) The county schedules a hearing.

3) If after the hearing, you would like to appeal that decision, you will receive further instructions at the hearing.

Still have questions? Contact the Sedgwick County Treasure, Appraiser & Clerks office at 316-660-9110.