COWLEY COUNTY                                                                                                                               HOME

COWLEY COUNTY APPRAISER

Theresa Waite, Deputy Appraiser

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Tax Calendar/Guide to Property Tax Appeals/Penalty Schedule for Late Filing/Guide to Preparing for a Property Valuation Appeal

Phone Number      (620) 221-5430
Fax Number          (620) 221-5442
Email                    Cowley County Appraiser

Links of interest

TAX CALENDAR FOR THE APPRAISER

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Penalty Schedule for Late Filing of Personal Property Renditions

Personal Property

March 16 - April 15
5% Personal Property late filing penalty

April 16 - May 15
10% Personal Property late filing penalty

May 16 - June 15
15% Personal Property late filing penalty

June 16 - July 15
20% Personal Property late filing penalty

July 16 - March 14
25% Personal Property late filing penalty

March 15, next year
50% Personal Property late filing penalty

Oil and Gas Penalty Schedule moves forward 15 days for each date

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Guide to Property Tax Appeals

Published by the Division of Property Valuation, 915 S.W. Harrison, Topeka, Kansas 66612
Link to Kansas Department of Revenue Property Valuations web page www.ink.org/public/kdor

1. Why do county appraisers appraise property?

In Kansas, the cost of local services is spread across the value of taxable property. (Local budgets/assessed value of taxable property = mill levy). The statewide school mill levy is 20 mills (20/1000). County appraisers are responsible for uniformly and accurately valuing all property each year. That way, we have a fair, up-to-date basis for sharing the annual cost of local services. Local services include police and fire protection, roads, parks, public health services and schools.



2. How is property valued for tax purposes?

All property is valued every January 1. Most property is valued based upon its fair market value.

There are a few exceptions to the rule that property is valued based upon its fair market value. Land devoted to agricultural use is valued based upon the income or productivity of the land. Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment is valued based upon a formula set forth in the laws. For more information about how these special properties are valued, contact your county appraiser or the Kansas Division of Property Valuation at (785) 296-2365.



3. What is fair market value and how is fair market value determined?

Fair market value is the amount an informed buyer is willing to pay, and an informed seller is willing to take for property in an open market without undue influences.

The county appraiser should be able to explain in depth how your property was valued. There are three basic approaches to value: (1) the sales (2) the cost and (3) the income approach. The county appraiser considers all three approaches to value in order to determine the market value of the subject.

(1) Sales Approach

In the sales approach, the county appraiser reviews similar properties that have sold, compares them to your property and may make adjustments for differing characteristics. This approach is typically applied to residential property in an area with a good number of sales.

(2) Cost Approach

In the cost approach, the county determines replacement cost new of the property less depreciation. This approach is used when property is new or unique or there are few sales in the area.

(3) Income Approach

In the income approach, the value of the property is estimated based upon the income the property is expected to produce. It is used to value commercial property when sufficient market rent information is available.

Documentation of Value

Your county appraiser can provide you with documentation showing how your property was valued. For example, the comparable sales sheet shows similar properties that have sold, adjustments, and the estimated value of your property. The inventory contents sheet ("ICS") shows the data collected on your property. For example, its measurements, condition, date of construction, etc.



4. Should I Appeal the Value of my Property?

If you believe that the value assigned by the county does not reflect the fair market value of your property on January 1, then you should appeal. The appeals process is an opportunity to review a property in depth. We all want values to be accurate, so that we have a fair basis for sharing the cost of local services.

You are welcome to request information about how your property was valued from the county appraiser's office in order to determine whether you should appeal.



4. How do I appeal?

                                                                    Appealing the Notice of Value

The first opportunity you have to appeal is when you receive the notice of your property's value in the spring. This appeal is sometimes referred to as an "EQ," or equalization appeal. To appeal, contact your county appraiser within 30 days from the date the notice was mailed.

Once you start this appeal, be sure to pursue it to your satisfaction. If you drop it, you cannot "pay under protest" later for the same property and tax year.

Informal Meeting: The first step in the appeals process begins with an informal meeting with the county appraiser. At the informal meeting, the county appraiser must provide you with documentation supporting his or her value. It is also your opportunity to explain why you believe the county's value is not correct.

Small Claims Division: If you decide to appeal the informal meeting results, you must appeal to Small Claims before proceeding to BOTA if your property is a single-family residential property. You may appeal to the Small Claims Division if (a) the property is a residential property other than a single-family residence; or (b) the property has a value below $2 million and is not agricultural land.

To appeal to the Board of Tax Appeal's (BOTA) Small Claims Division, file the proper form with BOTA within 30 days from the date the county mailed your notice of informal meeting results. In 2001, the appeal form should be part of the notice. Contact your county clerk or appraiser for the appeal form if necessary.

Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA): If you decide to appeal a Small Claims decision, you may appeal to BOTA. You may also appeal your informal hearing results directly to BOTA, if your property is not a single-family residential property.

To appeal to BOTA, file the proper form with BOTA within 30 days from the date you were mailed notice of
(a) the Small Claims Division decision or (b) the county appraiser's informal meeting results. In 2001, the appeal form should be part of the notice. Contact your county clerk or appraiser for the appeal form if necessary.



                                                        Appealing by Paying Under Protest

The second opportunity you have to appeal is when you receive your tax statement (generally in November). If you did not appeal the notice of your property's value, then you may later pay under protest. This is done by literally filing a payment under protest form with the county treasurer when you make your payment. If a tax escrow agent makes your tax payment, you must file the form no later than January 31.

Informal Meeting: The first step in the appeals process is an informal meeting with the county appraiser. At the informal meeting, the county appraiser must provide you with documentation supporting his or her value. It is also your opportunity to explain why you believe the county's value is not correct.

Small Claims Division: If you are not satisfied with the results of the informal meeting, you must appeal to Small Claims before proceeding to BOTA if your property is a single-family residential property. You may appeal to the Small Claims Division if (a) the property is a residential property other than a single-family residence; or (b) the property has a value below $2 million and is not agricultural land. To appeal, file the proper form with BOTA within 30 days from the date the county mailed your notice of informal meeting results. In 2001, the appeal form should be part of the notice. Contact your county treasurer or appraiser for the appeal form if necessary.

Board of Tax Appeals: If you decide to appeal a Small Claims decision, you may appeal to BOTA. You may also appeal your informal hearing results directly to BOTA, if your property is not a single-family residential property.

To appeal, file the proper form with BOTA within 30 days from the date you were mailed notice of (a) the Small Claims Division decision or (b) the county appraiser's informal meeting results. In 2001, the appeal form should be part of the notice. Contact your county treasurer or appraiser for the appeal form if necessary.



6. What advantage is there to appealing to the Board's small claims division?

The main two advantages are speed and convenience. The small claims division must hold the hearing within 60 days and issue a decision within 30. The hearing is held in the county where the property is located or an adjacent county. The process is informal and confidential; all records are returned to the taxpayer at the conclusion. You may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals if you are not satisfied with the small claims division's decision.



7. What are the "Burdens of Proof" on Appeal?

Small Claims Division:: The county must show that its value is correct.

Board of Tax Appeals: The county must show that the value of residential or commercial property is correct. However, if commercial real property is leased, the owner must provide income/expense information (up to 3 years) or the county's value is presumed to be correct.

Increases in Value: If real property increases in value from the prior year, the county must (1) review the record of the property's last physical inspection and (2) have documentation supporting the increase. If the value increases following a year when the value was reduced by appeal, then the county appraiser must also show substantial and compelling reasons for increasing the value.

Don't take it for granted that you will win your appeal because the county must support its value. Be ready to show why your value is more accurate than the county's. Consider providing: recent sales of similar properties; proof of your property's recent sales price; photos and estimates of needed repairs; a private fee appraisal report; or rent information.

For more information about taxes, see the Kansas Department of Revenue's website:
www.ink.org/public/kdor

For more property tax appeals information, see the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals' website:
www.ink.org/public/bota

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