Property Owners Given the Opportunity to Challenge Their TRIM Notices Online

According to Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, as of Monday, August 31, 2009 property owners who disagree with their property value assessments can file petitions to go before the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) online via the Clerk’s website www.mypinellasclerk.org. Along with the online petitioning feature, the Clerk’s website will now offer petitioners the ability to submit any supporting documents online.

Property owners who disagree with their assessments are given the opportunity to meet with the property appraiser’s office to further discuss their notices. If the outcome of this meeting is still to the dissatisfaction of the owners then they may file a formal challenge with the VAB.

The Value Adjustment Board acts as the decision-making authority between the property owners and the property appraiser when a disagreement arises over exemptions, valuations and classifications. Once this petition has been filed, a quasi-judicial hearing is scheduled with a special magistrate.

Previous methods of petitioning to go before the VAB are still available however the forms can now be easily accessed online and then mailed or filed in person at the Clerk’s Board of Records department. The forms can also be dropped off at any one of the following three Clerk branch offices: the St. Petersburg Branch at 545 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg; the Tyrone Branch at 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg or the North County Branch at 29582 U.S. 19, Clearwater.

On Monday, August 24, 2009 the property Appraiser’s office mailed the Truth In Millage (TRIM) notices, giving property owners until Friday, September 18, 2009 to file a petition challenging their property tax notice.

The TRIM notice will include the homeowner’s property taxes, property assessments and proposed millage rates set by the various taxing entities. According to Pam Dubov, Property Appraiser the market values shown on the 2009 TRIM Notices are based on the current market conditions and ownership status of the property as of January 1, 2009 which is determined by analyzing sales that took place in 2008.

The st. petersburg foreclosure and bankruptcy attorneys at Yesner & Boss, P.L. can answer any further questions you may have before or after after you file a petition for the VAB. Contact us today for a free consultation.