Question 1. What is an Exemption?
| An exemption removes part of your property value from
taxation. The most common exemptions are for homeowners and for homeowners over
65 years of age. |
Question 2. Do I qualify for an
exemption?
| If you own your own home and are living in it on January
1st of the tax year you will qualify for a homestead exemption. If
you own your own home, are living in it, and are over 65 years of age on
January 1st of the tax year you qualify for both a homestead and an
additional exemption for being over 65. |
Question
3. Are there any other exemptions options available to me?
| There are special exemptions for disabled homeowners and for
disabled veterans and their survivors. |
Question
4. How do I apply for exemptions?
| You may come to the Appraisal District office at 4631 Andrews
Hwy. or any tax office and apply for an exemption by filling out an exemption
form. You may also print an exemption form from the Midland County Appraisal
District web site (Click on the "Forms"
link above), or call the Appraisal District at (432) 699-4991 and ask them to
mail you an exemption form. Fill out the form and return it by mail. |
Question
5. How is my property appraised?
| Texas law requires that your property to be appraised at full
market value on January 1st. In other words, the appraised value of
your home is an estimate of what it would sell for on January 1st.
To determine this value, the approach most commonly used is to compare your
home to those in the neighborhood that are similar and have recently sold. |
Question
6. How can I find out the appraised value of my home?
| If the value of your property has increased by more than
$1000 from the previous year, or if your property is new and was not appraised
in the previous year, you will receive a notice of appraised value from the
Appraisal District. This notice is usually sent on April 15th. If
you are not sure of the appraised value of your property, a number of options
are available to you. You can click on the "Property
Search/Maps" link above and follow the instructions to find your
property value, or call the Appraisal District at (432) 699-4991 after April
15th (it helps the assisting clerk if you know your account number
from the previous tax bills and notices you have received, the legal
description of the property, the property address, or the name of the owner as
it appeared on the deed). You may also come to the Appraisal District office at
4631 Andrews Hwy. for assistance. |
Question
7. Should I protest the appraised value of my home?
| If you believe the appraised value of your property is above
or below the market value on January 1st you should protest the
value. If you protest, the Appraisal Review Board will hear your case and
determine the taxable value of your home. |
Question
8. How do I protest my appraised value?
| You must submit a written protest of value which identifies
the property using account number, legal description, address, or location on
or before the deadline of May 31st of each tax year. You can call
the Appraisal District, come by the office and get a form for protest, or you
may write a letter. You may also print the "Property Tax - Notice of
Protest" (form number 50-132) form from the Midland County Appraisal
District web site (click on the "Forms"
link above). Remember your protest must be written, and it must be sent prior
to June 1st. |
Question
9. If I protest, how will I be notified of my hearing?
| You will receive a Notice to Appear before the Appraisal
Review Board at least 15 days prior to your hearing. The notice will also
contain a date and time that you can discuss the appraised value of you home
informally with an appraiser. If you and the appraiser agree on the value of
your home you will not have to appear before the Appraisal Review Board. If you
do not agree with the appraiser you will be required to appear at your
scheduled hearing and present your case to the Appraisal Review Board. |
Question 10. If I protest, how
should I prepare for my hearing?
| You should gather evidence which supports your view of the
value of your home. This would include sales of comparable homes in your
neighborhood, the purchase price of your home, photographs of your home and
comparable homes, or photographs of details of your home showing conditions
such as cracks, flood damage, and so forth. Your presentation should be direct,
concise and honest. Stick to the facts and avoid discussing issues that do not
have anything to do with the value of your property such as the tax rate and
percent increase from one year to the next. The panel hearing your case will
inform you of the value set for taxation on your home. You will also receive,
by certified mail, a written order from the Appraisal Review Board showing the
value set on your property. |
Question 11. How do I get more information or
assistance?
| You may browse the Midland County Appraisal District web site
for forms, instructions and general information. You may come to the Midland
County Appraisal Distict Office at 4631 Andrews Hwy. where one of our clerks
will assist you, or you may call us at (432) 699-4991. There is also a wealth
of helpful information available at the State Comptroller's web site - click on
the "Taxpayers Rights and Remedies and
Responsibilities (English)" or the "Derechos, Recursos...(Spanish)" link just below the
questions list on this web page. |
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