FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com
HOME | CONTACT US | APPRAISAL CLIENT LOGIN
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Search 
    HOME         ABOUT US         PROPERTY TAX         APPRAISALS         RESEARCH & CONSULTING         FEDERAL TAX REDUCTION         IN THE NEWS    
  PROPERTY TAX 
» Overview
» How to Protest
    » Commercial Owners
    » Homeowners
» Sign Up Now
» Important Dates
» Frequent Questions
» Less Frequently Asked Questions
» Property Tax Glossary
» Client Accolades
» Texas Property Tax Code
» Texas Property Tax Code Explained
» Property Tax Tips e-Newsletter
» Management Profiles
» Check your Account Status
» How Your Home is Viewed (humor)
KEEP ME INFORMED
RELATED INFORMATION

» Steps to Protesting Your Property Taxes
» The Approaches to Establishing Property Value
» Useful Property Tax Information
» Our Fee Offer for Commercial Property Owners
» Our Fee Offer for Homeowners
» Sample House Bill 201 Letter
.
News & Articles
» Preparing for Binding Arbitration
» Property Tax Tip #1: Appealing Property Taxes for Your Home
» Property Tax Tip #2: Preparing for Your Property Tax Hearing
» Property Tax Tip #3: The Hearing Process
» Appeal Your Property Taxes on Market Value and Unequal Appraisal
» Protesting Commercial Property Taxes (PDF)
» Texas Business Personal Property Rendition and Taxation
» Appealing Property Taxes for Apartments

» Property Tax Appeals - Its Your Money!



Useful Forms
» Protest Form (41-44)
» Exemption Form (50-114)
» Motion for Hearing to Correct One-Third Over-Appraisal Error (50-230)
» Joint Motion to Correct Incorrect Appraised Value (50-249)
» Property Owner's Affidavit of Evidence (50-283)
» Request for Binding Arbitration (AP-219)
» Appointment of Agent for Property Taxes (50-162)
» Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Appraisal (50-129)
» General Real Estate Rendition of Taxable Property (50-141)
» General Personal Property Rendition of Taxable Property - Non Income Producing (50-142)
» Business Personal Property Rendition of Taxable Property (50-144)

Property Tax Reduction, Property Tax Protest, Property Tax Appeals

Property Tax Reduction Overview

Texas' Largest Property Tax Consultant
Our staff achieves better results than is typical for most firms. We attempt to reduce your property taxes for each property every year, even if the value did not change!

We have the expertise and the manpower to help you lower your property taxes. In 2008, O'Connor & Associates filed more than 140,000 protests, effectively reducing our client's assessed values by almost $2.6 billion, cutting their taxes by over $65 million. We will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to protest and lower your taxes:

  • Informal hearings
  • Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearings
  • Judicial appeals

Even if your property is taxed for less than its market value, you could still be eligible for a property tax cut based on inequitable assessment compared to neighboring or competing properties. Our staff generated property tax savings for nearly 75% of our Harris County residential clients' properties in 2007!

Hire O'Connor & Associates to appeal high property taxes. You pay NOTHING unless we save you money! May 31, 2009 is the deadline to protest most accounts.  If you filed your own protest in Harris County, O'Connor & Associates can still represent you at your hearing.

» Sign Up online NOW!


 
Call Toll Free: 1-877-4-TAXCUT or e-mail our property tax department.


Top 11 Reasons Texas Property Owners Do Not Appeal Their Property Taxes
Property Tax- Frequent Questions
Property Tax- Less Frequently Asked Questions

Property Tax Myths
  • It doesn't make sense to appeal my property taxes if my property is assessed for less than market value.
    Not true. Using unequal appraisal, our property tax consultants can probably reduce your property taxes even if your assessed value is below market value. Unequal appraisal compares the assessed value of your property to the assessed value of similar properties. O'Connor & Associates is the market leader in developing and presenting unequal appraisal appeals. Our property tax consultants use proprietary computer programs, banks of server computers and massive databases to search for assessment comparables which document a lower assessed value for your property. Many, if not most, property tax appeals focus on unequal appraisal instead of market value.
  • Property tax increases are capped at 10% per year.
    The appraisal district can increase your assessed value 10% plus the market value of any improvements.

    O'Connor & Associates' property tax consultants reduced property taxes for 75% of Harris County homeowners in 2007. In addition, there is no cost if our property tax consultants do not reduce your property taxes.
  • Protesting my property taxes probably will not be successful… why bother?
    Most property tax appeals are successful. A survey of over 600 property owners indicates 66% of owners who appeal are successful. O'Connor & Associates' property tax consultants reduced property taxes for 75% of Harris County homeowners and 80% of Harris County commercial property owners in 2007.
  • Isn't it risky to appeal? What is the downside?
    Most property tax appeals are successful and the value cannot be increased at the informal hearing, where most accounts are settled. The assessed value rarely increases at the ARB.
  • The appraisal district will retaliate if I protest.
    No. We filed over 140,000 appeals in 2008.
  • Will the appraisal district inspect my house?
    Not unless you tell the appraisal district that your house is smaller than they indicate and they need to measure it. The appraisal district is very busy during the property tax appeal season and simply does not have the staffing to measure thousands of houses.
  • I don't have time to appeal!
    Just call O'Connor & Associates before your protest deadline. After a three-minute phone call, our property tax consultants and support staff will handle your appeal.



  • Corporate Office
    2200 North Loop West, Suite 200
    Houston, TX 77018
    driving directions to all locations
    (t) 713.686.9955 / 1.800.856.REAL
    (f) 713.686.3377
    For general questions not related to property tax, e-mail us.
    For property tax questions e-mail the Property Tax Department.
    Office Locations
    Houston, TX (corporate)
    Dallas, TX
    San Antonio, TX
    Los Angeles, CA
    Services: Cost Segregation | Property Tax | Appraisals | Research & Consulting
    Copyright © 2010 O'Connor & Associates. All Rights Reserved. Industry Links | Sitemap |  Privacy Policy | Legal Notice