Property Tax Exemption Notice (Dallas, Denton: assessor, house, taxi)

[Jenny1981]

Hey, I got something in the mail from the "Property TAx Assessor Records Corp" and then underneath that it says "Not affiliated with any Government Agency" "Exemption Information and Processing". Basically it says after a review of the Denton County Property TAx records they noticed we were not shown as taking an excemption for our property and then it gives our address and in red it says that it appears we are overpaying our property taxes. It wants us to apply for the exemption and to apply for a refund of taxes overpaid in 2009, which apparently we do by signing and returning the card provided and then also paying a $55 processing fee. I'm just wondering if this is legit. If we really are overpaying and due a refund for 2009 and qualify for this exemption then I'll all for it but I'd hate to send off $55 and then it turns out to be a scam. It's signed by John Fife and the address it goes to is PO Box 1163, Denton, Tx 76202. Anybody know anything about this? This is our first house and we've been in it two years in October which in the letter it says we have until October 2010 to respond.

[momof2dfw]

There are third parties that you can "hire" to go and negotiate your property tax values for you. They take a portion of what you can get taken off. You do NOT need them to do it yourself and you can do it for free with a little time.

Go online to the Denton County Tax Appraisers website and look up your address. From there you can see if you DO or do not have the exemption. If not then you can file it yourself without any costs.

[ETex2]

What mom said.

[Jenny1981]

Ok, thanks guys! Didn't want to have to pay $55 if I didn't need to.

[loves2read]

and there is no guarantee that IF that third-party tried to negotiate a lesser property valuation it will succeed and you will still be out their fee
and there is no guarantee that if YOU try it, you will succeed...
some do and some don't...

[lakehighlands]

If you were the legal owner on Jan 1, 2009, you are entitled to apply for a homestead exemption that would be effective for the 2009 tax year, if the home was your primary residence and you had no other homestead exemption on any residential property. You would receive a refund if the home was your primary residence as of Jan 1, 2009. You can retroactively add the homestead exemption for one prior year.

Do not pay someone to apply for a homestead exemption for you as it costs you nothing to do it yourself. Go to the Denton central appraisal district website, print off the application for residential homestead exemption, sign it and return it to the appraisal district. You will be refunded the overpayment amount by the various taxing entities in Denton county to which you pay property taxes.

[nsumner]

This is related so I want to let those who purchased a home in 2009 that the deadline for filing your homestead exemption is April 30. This has to be your primary residence. It doesn't cost you anything to file. Go to the tax appraisal district for the county you live in, look up your address and follow the link to get the homestead exmption form.

You must have been the owner of the home by January 1st 2010 to qualify. There are other types of exemptions that apply such as over 65 exemption, disabled veteran etc.

For Dallas county go to Dallas Central Appraisal District
For Collin county go to Welcome to the Collin Central Appraisal District
For Denton county go to Denton Central Appraisal District - Home
For Tarrant county go to Tarrant Appraisal District
For Rockwall county go to www.rockwallcad.com
For Kaufman county go to Kaufman County Appraisal District
For Hunt county go to www.hunt-cad.org

Remember it is FREE to file for it, so you don't need to pay a third party.

Naima