Deadline nears for property tax reviews

LAKE COUNTY — Taxpayers who did not already file for an informal review after receiving their 2009 property assessments, and those tax payers who will not get another assessment notice for 2010, have a second chance to file for an informal review of their 2009 property assessments.

The deadline to file for an informal review is June 30. Normally, after receiving a property assessment notice, a taxpayer has 30 days to file for an informal review (Form AB-26). However, the Montana Department of Revenue has adopted a new administrative rule that allows taxpayers who missed last year’s deadline another opportunity to file. Any adjustments from this review will apply to tax year 2010 and forward; it is not retroactive to 2009 taxes.

“The past practice has been that we accepted informal reviews throughout the reappraisal cycle,” Cynthia Monteau-Moore, Administrator of the Property Assessment Division of the Department of Revenue, said. “Essentially, we are clarifying to the public through an administrative rule to change the past practice.”

Montana has a six-year reappraisal cycle, which means all property owners receive an assessment notice during the first year of that cycle, most recently 2009.

After the first year of a reappraisal, the department only sends assessment notices to taxpayers who experienced a change, such as transfer of ownership, a remodel, or other special circumstance.

“July 1, 2008 is the reappraisal date,” Monteau-Moore said. “We look at the market at that date and the values are set, so any sales or market conditions after that date do not apply.”

Even though 2010 is the second year of the reappraisal cycle, this new rule allows those taxpayers who missed the 2009 deadline another opportunity to file for an informal review, but to taxpayers who have already filed an informal review and have received a decision, this extension does not apply. The rule applies to agricultural, residential, and forestland property.

After June 30, the department will only accept informal review requests from taxpayers who have received a new assessment notice.

“If the taxpayer wishes to file an AB-26, it is very important for them to attach all supporting documentation for that review,” Monteau-Moore said.

Form AB-26 is available at revenue.mt.gov. For questions, call the department toll-free at 1-866-859-2254.