Frequently Asked Questions

A property tax appeal is a formal request to lower your assessed value. In Indiana, you file Form 130 (State Form 53958) with your county's Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA). If your property is assessed higher than its market value-in-use, you may be entitled to a reduction.

First, you receive your assessment notice (Form 11). If you believe the assessment is too high, you file Form 130 with the township or county assessor. The PTABOA must hold a hearing within 180 days. If unsatisfied with the PTABOA decision, you can appeal to the Indiana Board of Tax Review (IBTR) within 45 days, and ultimately to Indiana Tax Court.

Yes. Indiana law allows any property owner to file Form 130 and represent themselves at PTABOA hearings. Our tool provides the comparable sales analysis and evidence preparation that attorneys typically charge hundreds of dollars to produce.

At the hearing, you present your evidence (comparable sales, cost approach data, or equity analysis) to the PTABOA board members. The assessor may also present evidence. The board reviews both sides and issues a written determination. Many counties offer an informal meeting with the assessor before the formal hearing, which resolves a majority of cases.

Most appeals are resolved within 3-6 months at the PTABOA level. The PTABOA has 180 days from filing to issue a decision. If you escalate to the IBTR, add another 6-12 months. Tax Court proceedings can take 1-2 years.

The strongest evidence is comparable sales data showing similar properties sold for less than your assessed value. Indiana courts have ruled that sales comparison evidence is the "best evidence" when properly prepared. You should include at least three comparable sales within your taxing district or within 2 miles, with adjustments explained for any differences.

Comparable sales are recent arm's-length transactions of similar properties. Per IC 6-1.1-15-18, residential comparables must come from the same taxing district or within 2 miles. Our system evaluates similarity based on square footage, age, property class, proximity, sale recency, and condition to find the strongest matches.

No. While a certified appraisal is strong evidence, it is not required. Indiana allows property owners to present comparable sales data, cost approach calculations, or income data as evidence. Our tool generates analysis that follows the same methodology professional appraisers use, without the $300-500 appraisal cost.

A subjective appeal (Form 130, Section II) challenges the assessed value itself, arguing the property is worth less than the assessor determined. An objective appeal (Section III) challenges factual errors like wrong square footage, incorrect year built, or missing condition issues. You can file both types on the same Form 130.

Indiana recognizes: (1) Sales comparison - comparing your property to recent similar sales; (2) Cost approach - replacement cost minus depreciation; (3) Income approach - value based on rental income potential; and (4) Assessment equity - showing your property is assessed higher than comparable properties in your district. Sales comparison is the most commonly used and strongest for residential properties.

The general deadline is June 15 of the assessment year, or 45 days after Form 11 assessment notices are mailed - whichever is later. This means if your county mails Form 11 notices after May 1, you get extra time beyond June 15. Check your specific county page for exact deadlines.

If your county mailed Form 11 notices less than 45 days before June 15, your actual deadline extends to 45 days after the mailing date. For objective errors (factual mistakes), you can file within 3 years of the assessment date regardless of the standard deadline. Otherwise, you must wait until the next assessment year.

Form 11 notices are mailed by each county assessor, typically between March and May. The exact date varies by county and year. Our county pages track mailing dates and calculate your effective deadline automatically.

For objective errors (wrong square footage, incorrect year built, etc.), you can file within 3 years of the assessment date under IC 6-1.1-15-1.1(b). For subjective valuation appeals, you must file within the standard deadline for that assessment year.

Our property analysis is completely free. If you decide to proceed with an appeal, fees are based on a percentage of your estimated annual tax savings. The exact fee depends on your property class and is shown transparently after we analyze your property. You only pay if you choose to move forward.

No. Our pricing is shown upfront after the free analysis. The fee is a percentage of estimated savings with a minimum that varies by property type. There are no filing fees for Form 130 appeals at the PTABOA level. If you escalate to the IBTR, the filing fee is $50. Tax Court filing is $120.

We do not guarantee a specific outcome because the PTABOA has discretion in their decisions. However, our analysis uses the same IAAO-compliant methodology that professional assessors use, and we only recommend filing when the data shows a strong case for over-assessment.

Fees are calculated as a percentage of your estimated first-year tax savings, with a minimum fee based on property class. For single-family residential, the fee is 30% of savings with a $50 minimum. Commercial and industrial properties are 35% with a $150 minimum. Full pricing is displayed after your free analysis.

No. Our tool provides property tax assessment analysis and evidence preparation, not legal advice. We use publicly available assessment data, comparable sales records, and IAAO-standard statistical methods. For complex legal situations, we recommend consulting with a property tax attorney.

Indiana's assessment standard is "true tax value," defined as the market value-in-use of a property for its current use. This is different from fair market value (what someone might pay) and value-to-the-user (subjective personal value). It reflects what a typical buyer would pay for the property's current use, based on comparable evidence.

If your assessment increased by more than 5% over the prior year, the burden shifts to the assessor to justify the increase (IC 6-1.1-15-17.2). Otherwise, the taxpayer bears the burden of proving the assessment is incorrect. This burden-shifting rule does not apply to equity/uniformity claims.

Indiana's Constitution caps property taxes at 1% of assessed value for homestead properties, 2% for other residential and agricultural land, and 3% for commercial, industrial, and personal property. If your property already hits the cap, reducing your assessed value may not lower your tax bill. Our analysis accounts for this.

Yes. In Indiana, there are three possible outcomes: your assessment is lowered, stays the same, or increases. However, assessment increases from appeals are uncommon when the case is supported by strong comparable sales evidence. Our tool only recommends filing when the data clearly shows over-assessment.

Success rates vary by county and the strength of evidence. Across Indiana, well-supported appeals with comparable sales evidence have strong success rates. Our system identifies properties with the highest likelihood of successful appeals based on assessment-to-sale ratios and statistical analysis.

Savings depend on how much your property is over-assessed and your local tax rate. The average Indiana homeowner who successfully appeals saves approximately $348 per year. Some properties with significant over-assessment can save much more. Our free analysis shows your specific estimated savings.

Your purchase price is strong evidence of market value if the sale was arm's-length (not between family members, not distressed, etc.). If you purchased recently and your assessment is significantly higher than your purchase price, you have a solid basis for appeal. However, Indiana assesses based on the January 1 valuation date, so the timing of your purchase matters.