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Q.1
Some say Texas’ property tax system is flawed because
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final sales price of a property is not public information in Texas so appraisers don’t have accurate data.
property appraisals are guesses in a completely subjective field.
protests are handled in an arbitrary willy-nilly way depending on which county is involved.
all of the above.
Q.2
This year’s legal deadline to inform your county appraisal district either in writing or online that you are protesting your 2016 property tax appraisal and/or market value is May 31.
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True
False
Q.3
The state’s 10 percent cap on an allowed increase in any year applies only to
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the market value, which is an appraiser’s estimate of a sales price.
the appraised value, which is what’s multiplied by taxing entities with their tax rates to get your bill.
both.
there is no such cap.
Q.4
Which one of these gives Texas seniors 65 and over a blanket exemption on increases on their property taxes?
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all school districts.
all school districts and some cities.
all cities.
Q.5
When you protest you go before a small group that’s called
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Appraisal Review Board.
Tax-Collector/Assessor.
County Appeals Board
Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Q.6
A property tax consultant who is supposed to represent you in a protest usually charges
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a flat fee.
a fee based on approximately half of any savings made with a win.
either way because both are possibilities.
Q.7
The biggest discount a Texas homeowner can get is a homestead exemption.
*
True
False
Q.8
If you lose a hearing, you can give up or appeal by
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suing in district court.
seeking binding arbitration.
doing it either way.
Q.9
One way to win a protest hearing is to present documentation that as of Jan. 1 of this year, a property is overtaxed by showing:
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an estimate for roof repairs along with photos of damage.
a similar neighbor’s house is taxed much less.
a recent house sale contract with a sale price that’s actually lower than an appraiser’s estimate.
all of the above.
Q.10
Anyone can learn for free about other property values that are publicly listed by going to a county’s appraisal district website and using the search function.
*
True
False
Q.11
If the appraised value of a property goes up, but the government tax rate it’s tied to stays the same, is there still a tax increase?
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Yes
No
Q.12
If a homeowner doesn’t get an annual property tax notice in the mail by the second week in May, the homeowner should
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look up the property on the appraisal district’s website.
understand that state law only requires notices be sent when appraised values go up by more than $1,000.
consider the possibility that your notice got lost in the mail.
all of these.
Q.13
The cost to file a protest is
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free.
$14.50.
$29.95.
Q.14
"Get comps." That’s what experts say is another way to protest. Get comps means:
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work together with your neighbors to organize as compadres.
get compassion for appraisers who take a lot of abuse.
ask a Realtor to get you a list of comparable properties in your neighborhood showing recent sales.
get compliments about how nice your house is.
Q.15
Complaints about the current property tax system should go to:
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a state Senate Property Tax Reform and Relief select committee via Chairman Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Harris.
the Texas state comptroller, which monitors the system.
your state representative and senator who are looking at property tax reform in 2017.
all of the above.
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