Property Assessment FAQ
TAX ASSESSMENT
Phone: (570) 325-5254 Email: carbontaxassess@carboncounty.net
Phone: (570) 325-5254 Email: carbontaxassess@carboncounty.net
Questions & Answers About Your Property Assessment
An assessment is a percentage of the market value of your property against which tax millage is applied. In Carbon County the assessment percentage (known as the pre-determined ratio) is 50%.
Millage is 1/1000th of a dollar. To derive your tax dollars you multiply your assessment by the millage. For example: if your assessment is 20,000 and the millage for your district is 80 (20,000 x .080 mills), then your tax bill is $1,600.
Each taxing district sets its own millage rate every year after it determines how much money it needs to operate.
There are three: The county, township/borough & school. The county & township/borough operate on a calendar year basis: January 1st to December 31st. The school operates on the fiscal year basis, that is, July 1 through June 30th.
No. Current year taxes are collected by the tax collectors who are elected every four years by voters within their townships/boroughs. Delinquent Real Estate taxes are collected by the Tax Claim Bureau.
The county, township/borough bill comes out on April 1st. The school tax bill on July 1st is for school districts: Lehighton, Palmerton & Weatherly and August 1st for school districts: Jim Thorpe, Panther Valley & Hazleton.
In Pennsylvania land and buildings, or improvements attached to the land, are subject to taxation.
When improvements are made to a property, a field assessor does a physical inspection of the site and takes outside measurements of the structure. Those measurements along with other features such as fireplaces, bathrooms, heat type, etc. are factored into the calculation of the assessment.
You should notify the assessment office as soon as possible. An assessor will field check to verify the building is down and prorate the assessment for the balance of the tax year.
Yes. Mobile homes are taxable as real estate if they are in any way connected to water, gas, electric, or sewer. The land under the mobile home is assessed separately.
Yes. You will have to obtain a permit from your borough/township in which you live.
You should notify the Assessment Office with the new owner's name & address.
You should notify the Assessment Office in writing as soon as possible. This is important & should be done as soon as possible. According to Pennsylvania Law, you are still responsible to pay your real estate taxes even if you do not receive your tax bill.
You must file a written appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals identifying the assessment you want to appeal, the property record card number and the address you want the Board to send your notice to appear for the hearing. There is an assessment appeal form to fill out or we can accept the appeal in the form of a letter of intent from the taxpayer.
If you received an Assessment Change Notice, you have 40 days from the date the notice was mailed to file an appeal. Otherwise, you can file an appeal on or before September 1st for the following tax year.
There is no cost to file an appeal.
The burden of proof is on the property owner at an assessment appeal. It is important that you provide the Board with pertinent documentation, such as appraisals, comparable sales of similar homes, cost of construction, pictures or wetland & non-perk data.
The following are a list of normal maintenance & repair jobs you can do to your property without increasing your assessment:
- Painting-outside or inside
- Repairing & replacing existing masonry
- Replacing plumbing & light fixtures
- Landscaping
- Replacing a roof
- New exterior siding (except stone & brick)
- Residential Paving
- Residential Fencing
The following are examples of improvements that will increase your property assessment & resale value:
- Creating additional living space
- Renovating an unfinished basement or attic
- Adding an extra bath, porch, deck or patio
- Adding a garage
- Outbuildings or sheds over 10x10 and/or are permanently affixed to the ground
- Complete modernization and conversion of a home