WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?
There are no sign-up or yearly fees. You only pay if we save you tax dollars. At the completion of your protest, we charge a contingency fee of 50% of your total property tax savings for residential accounts and 30% for commercial accounts.
WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO APPEAL MY PROPERTY VALUE?
The typical deadline for filing a protest is May 15th, or 30 days after the day you receive your notice from the appraisal district. To have CPT file your protest, sign up by 12:00 PM on May 14th. Some owners can still sign up with us after the cutoff if they have already filed their protest. Contact us to learn more.
HOW ARE MY TAX SAVINGS CALCULATED?
Tax savings is based on the difference between the proposed value and the final value and multiplied by the most current tax rate. For example, if the proposed value is $100,000 and the final value is $90,000 and your tax rate is 3%, the property tax savings is $300.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO HAVE CPT PROTEST MY PROPERTY VALUE?
Look for the Sign Up tab in the upper right hand corner of the CPT website and follow the directions. Please add info@campropertytax.com to your contact list. After you sign up, we will handle the rest – from filing your protest, reviewing your account, building your case, and attending all hearings.
HOW WILL WE COMMUNICATE ABOUT MY PROPERTY?
You will receive emails from CPT about additional information that might be needed for your hearing, protest results, and property tax deadlines.
SHOULD I HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO HANDLE MY TAX PROTEST?
Yes, you want to hire an experienced tax specialist just as you would hire an accountant for your tax returns or an attorney for a lawsuit. We are dedicated to obtaining the largest reduction possible through strong connections with the county, expert tax reduction strategy, and aggressive negotiations. Hiring a professional will ensure all the correct steps are taken.
IF I PROTEST MY PROPERTY TAXES, DOESN'T THAT MEAN MY PROPERTY IS WORTH LESS?
No, County values are based on mass appraisal and used for taxation purposes only. The tax assessment of a property is different from what it would sell for. The market value to sell a property is determined by recent sales in the area, not by the appraisal district. When you choose to sell your property, a real estate agent will be able to guide you in the value for sale. Their objective is to obtain the highest sales value. Our objective is to obtain the lowest tax value.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MARKET VALUE AND THE APPRAISED VALUE?
The market value is the value a property could be sold for in a competitive and open market. The appraised value is the market value with exemptions applied. The appraised value is the taxable value, in which property taxes are paid.
MY VALUE CAN ONLY INCREASED BY 10% EACH YEAR. DO I NEED TO PROTEST?
Yes, we recommend appealing all residential and commercial accounts every year. If your property has a homestead exemption, then the amount you are taxed on is capped to a 10% increase from the previous year; However, the appraised value can increase without limit. Appealing one year can have a cascading effect that protects your property value for years to come.
DO I NEED TO ATTEND THE HEARINGS?
No, you do not need to attend the hearings. We will attend the hearing for you. After you register, we take care of the whole protest process for you.
WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU ABOUT THE OUTCOME?
We finalize the majority of our hearings with the county by the end of July. You can expect to hear from us from late July to early November
IS THERE A FEE IF YOU DO NOT REDUCE MY TAXES?
No, if we do not save you any money, our service is free. The protest fee is based on tax savings with no upfront fees. Since there is no risk of losing money, we recommend protesting tax accounts every year even if you think the value is in-line.
WHAT IS THE FEE IF YOU DO REDUCE MY TAXES?
The protest fee is based on tax savings with no sign-up fees or yearly fees. Our fee is 50% of tax savings for residential accounts and 30% for commercial accounts. If there is no tax reduction, we do not bill for our services.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION CAN I PROVIDE TO HELP WITH MY CASE?
If you purchased your property within the last two years, please email a copy of your HUD-1 Settlement Statement to info@campropertytax.com. If you would like condition pictures (please limit pictures to 10), repair estimates, engineers reports, or a current appraisal to be included in your evidence packet as supporting documentation, please send to info@campropertytax.com with the property address listed on the subject line.
CAN YOU STILL HELP US IF WE HAVE AN OVER 65 OR DISABLED PERSON EXEMPTION?
Our protest service is based on tax savings after homestead exemption only. With an Over 65 or Disabled Person exemption, you may end up paying more than 40% of tax savings. If you are unsure if your property has any of these, you can check your property on the Appraisal District's website.