Can appraisal districts require you give them your closing statement/

[TKK]

went to appraisal district office about an ag exemption - lady at front desk thought I was there for my home and asked when I bought the property. I told her within the past year and she told me I had to bring in my closing statement so they could get the sales price.

I was under the impression you are not required to provide that in Texas?

[fulmer34]

Never heard of that, ours sent a form in the mail a few times after we bought the place asking how much we paid. I threw them all in the trash.

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[jmoore2006]

Mine hounded me for months. I just ignored and had only a 3% raise in value. Average in the area was double so maybe ignoring them suited me well


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[TKK]

I have also been asked (in forms they sent) for sales price and ignored them too. But the lady at the office said I had to have it in order to protest. If I had declined I am wondering if they can legally require it?

[Stan R]

Texas is a non disclosure state. You do not have to give them a copy of the closing statement and can throw the forms they send in the trash.

Randy can ask questions about the appeals process.

[M16]

No, you don't have to provide it. Our appraisal district had copies of the listing that had been on the internet. Also they are in cahoots with the property appraisers. Frequently trading information. The state also sends a letter to the buyer and seller asking the sales price. That should go in the trash.

[TxAg]

I have also been asked (in forms they sent) for sales price and ignored them too. But the lady at the office said I had to have it in order to protest. If I had declined I am wondering if they can legally require it?

If you're protesting your property value (home) then it makes sense...you just paid the market value so that's what your home should be taxed at. She just wants to see the proof

If your value is currently appraised lower than what you paid, don't show her anything. Just go with the lower value.

[Bill M]

Texas is a non disclosure state. You do not have to give them a copy of the closing statement and can throw the forms they send in the trash.

Randy can ask questions about the appeals process.

^^^^ This, you do not have to disclose. My wife got ours reduced over 20K yesterday. The appraisal district rep told her she needed to push the legislature to change the non disclosure law. She told her "I don't think so." FTR my wife is a realtor so she was able to pull in a lot of info to use.

[wal1809]

Don't give them anything but a hard time. I live in Fort Bend County. You know the tax payers are taking a financial raping when the tax appraiser has to hire two off duty deputies during the tax protest time. I got a GD sunburn waiting in the line to get into the building several years back. 2 hours to get in and 2 hours to get to the counter. Something is wayyyy out of line with that picture.

[Randy]

Require.. No Not At All

Ask for it in hopes you give it to them.. Yes


Since you bought it recently the deed at most is all they would need to transfer your ownership.. which they should receive from the county clerks records.

[2014FusionM]

We showed them ours for our first year because they raised our taxes about 15K dollars over what we bought the house for.

[Randy]

But the lady at the office said I had to have it in order to protest.

Plain and simple.. She is lying to you..


Absolutely no requirement for filing for a protest other than you are the owner, or agent acting on the owners behalf and you are within the dates of the protest time.. There are even ways to have your protest filed after the deadline.


If you make it to a hearing I have heard members of the ARB ask the property owner what they paid for it if it was a recent purchase.

[TKK]

Plain and simple.. She is lying to you..


Absolutely no requirement for filing for a protest other than you are the owner, or agent acting on the owners behalf and you are within the dates of the protest time.. There are even ways to have your protest filed after the deadline.


If you make it to a hearing I have heard members of the ARB ask the property owner what they paid for it if it was a recent purchase.

that is what I thought - she acted like I could not see an appraiser for a protest unless I had my closing statement - seems like it would be against the law or rules to even ask for it

[8mpg]

If you are trying to drop it to that value, its quick and easy to do it that way. If you are going for below, then I wouldnt show them.

[CaptainDave]

We showed them ours for our first year because they raised our taxes about 15K dollars over what we bought the house for.

This is exactly what ended up happening to us.

There is not requirement to tell the appraisal district anything. It is up to them to examine your property and figure it out. Not much different than if you put in a pool or build a shop or something. They probably will sooner or later figure it out and assess into your value, but you don't have to raise your hand either.

However, my house was assessed about $25K more than what I had purchased it for. So, when I went in to protest, I couldn't do much more than provide my closing statements. I had a few comps, but they were around my purchase price.