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Warning
to Homeowners
Beware of
companies offering valuation appeals assistance
Darke County Auditor, Carol Ginn, and Sheriff Toby Spencer are warning
property owners to beware of companies offering to assist with
valuation appeals.
Tax Compliance Services, LLC of Cleveland has mailed letters to area
residents saying they could be overpaying their taxes because “the
County” value of their property might be in error.
Ginn said owners can do the research on their own and can file an
appeal for no charge with the Board of Revision (BOR).
“We often advise homeowners to contact a Realtor who is active in their
area for an independent opinion of their value,” she said. “They
can also review recent sales of comparable properties on our website at
www.darkecountyrealestate.org.”
“The information is available and easy to access,” said Ginn.
“Why pay some out-of-town company to provide what you can get for
free?” she asked. She said similar letters have been mailed to
property owners in counties across the state.
She noted that on one can offer a “guarantee” of a value reduction by
the BOR. “Promises of ‘risk free’ filings are extremely
misleading. Each case is considered on its merits and the BOR can
increase a value”, she said.
The BOR is a three-member board which includes a representative
appointed by a County Commissioner, the County Treasurer, and the
Auditor.
Auditor Ginn completed a full reappraisal last year and the new values
became effective with the first tax bill this year. Owners who
believe their value is inaccurate should make sure their BOR complaint
forms are received by the Auditors office by 4:30 p.m. on April 1, 2013.
Complaint forms and instructions are available from the Auditors office
or may be accessed on the Auditor’s website.
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