Posted on 12/07/2013 2:54:45 PM PST by Blackhawk
Received a note on our door from the county tax assessors office "informing us that they required access to our home. Never heard of this before. Is that legal? Not sure if I want a government tax agent snooping around my home. Not in the current climate here in WI.
Any serious advice?
“Show me the code.”
And they had better have it or a warrant.
As much as I despise lawyers — this is the time to consult with a number of them.
let them produce a warrant first?
Maybe it depends on whether you got a permit to do work on the place. Did you add permanent items to the house to increase its value? My folks and I we built our place and the assessor once in a while would come by to see how we were progressing. Still I’d ask around.
Is that allowed?
I ignored their request when they tried to do that to me 4 or 5 years ago, here in Canada.
They can ask to come in and they are looking for rooms with closets/egress windows so they can levy you with another bedroom, home improvements, etc etc. The property taxation system has gotten quite ridiculous. If you refuse to let them in they can assume whatever they want and adjust your taxes accordingly.
I asked them to come in when we purchased our home (foreclosure) because the previous occupant refused to let them in and never paid property tax so they had it all jacked up on our home/property.
They have crazy rules too. A patio is not assessed the same as a deck so I could tear off my deck and pour a big concrete slab and save money every year. We have a room downstairs that is roughed in without a closet but it has a daylight window. This does not count as a bedroom so if I avoid putting a closet in I won’t get taxed for another bedroom.
My barn with apartments is located about 110’ from my home so it is not eligible for guest house assessment and must be assessed as a second residence. If I built a carport with a roof that came out 10’ it would be eligible. It’s convoluted and prone to silliness, but what can you do?
Welcome to Amerika.
Gees what would a tax assessor need to see inside a house for? Are your weapons safe. Are your tile floors shiny and slick?
In my experience, you let them in or they can assume the worst on the assessment.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the laws varied across the country.
Do they want to do a property value reassessment ? My city does a reassessment every three years as required by state law and if they don’t gain access they assign the highest assessment in the area.
This is how the game is played: You refuse. Mr. Ass-sessor rates the interior finish as palatial, top shelf, drives up your taxable valuation. You get the bill, flip out and call for a dispute hearing. In order to verify your claim of over-evaluation, they’ll need to do a walk-through inspection, or you pay the inflated tax bill. Gotcha.
Our tax accessor used to come around all the time for personal property tax assessment. Now, it’s on the honor system - they just mail you a form that you fill out and mail back.
I am sure that there are people in our county who do not always tell the truth on the forms, but I guess it was more trouble than it was worth to have some one come out and make sure you were reporting everything.
Tell them that as soon as they produce a Warrant you’ll comply.
Should have mentioned, I am from the “Show Me” state, so that might be a bit different than your state.LOL
Here in IL we're assessed on square footage of the home, style of home (how much is above/semi-below/below ground makes a difference in taxes) and improvements made to the exterior only, primarily permanent improvements (landscaping doesn't count) such as outbuildings, decks, sheds.
Since you're in Wisconsin, best to check with a real estate attorney or your County offices.
NO! They can legally do a reassessment from the street here in NY anyway.
They have NO right to even walk on your property with out your permission.
They are just looking for reasons to raise your taxes, don’t give them any.
You can tell them “no” in WI, but then they’ll assume you have things you may not have. Has there been work (remodeling) done on your home without a permit? (Beyond basic paint) Have you added “garden windows” in your kitchen? Need a permit for that because it changes the exterior perimeter of the house. Perhaps that is what he’s looking for.
All of this is in preparation for jacking up your assessment, or forcing you to remove “improvements” that are not permitted, such as an addition that protrudes into a flood plain. (Not saying you have that, but our city required folks here to tear down an addition a couple of years ago for that reason.)
They wanted to come into my house a few years back, when I asked them why they said they need to review the square footage, make sure all the rooms are still the sizes they have on record, etc. I reviewed his paperwork with him, from out on the front stoop, and told him, it was correct that no walls had been moved, no major renovations except what they had on record from my permit to add air conditioning and then later to replace all windows (had to get a permit because I was not swapping from the outside). They guy was really nice, said we were fine, and off he went after walking around the house and taking a few pictures. Not sure if it helped or hurt, but the guy was nice enough and did not insist that I let him come in.
They’re trying it all over the place.
Michigan Tax Assessor Attempts Interior Home Inspections
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GqSzKqlODQ
I’d have to do some digging but I believe the state legislature just shut them down.
I found this:
What if I don’t let the Assessor inspect my property?
When an interior inspection is not allowed during the field review process, the Assessor will attempt to update the records by using any and all available information. Observation from the exterior, and any other indications of condition will be considered. In order to ensure an accurate assessment, it is to your advantage to allow the Assessor inside your property when an inspection is requested. By denying an interior inspection, you may lose the right to appeal your assessment to the Board of Review.
http://ci.marshfield.wi.us/assessor/?id=10843#Q5
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