INDIANAPOLIS — Property tax bills are arriving in mailboxes, and many taxpayers are feeling sticker shock.
From 2017 to 2021, Marion County has seen a 35% increase of assessed value in Marion County for residential real estate.
WRTV Investigates spoke with Marion County Assessor Joseph O’Connor.
“It’s really the rising price of real estate cost, which we really started to see back in 2018,” O’Connor said. “Every year we look at the sales that occur. We’re not projecting, we’re not predicting, we’re not making up values. Our values are determined on an annual basis through our trending process by using actual sales from sales disclosures that come through the office. We analyze those sales.”
O’Connor emphasized the assessments used to create your property tax bills are generated from public records.
“If anyone has a question or thinks it's too high, absolutely give our office a call,” O’Connor said. “If you think a property is too high, absolutely file an appeal. When I took office in 2011, we had a backlog of 30,000 appeals so now we are up to date. If there's a problem, we want to know about it and fix it as quick we can. "
You should look up your property record card to make sure what is listed is what is actually on your property, such as a garage or chimney.
The majority of your property tax bill goes to fund local government such as police, fire and the health department.
The assessor's office processes property assessment appeals in the order they are received. To appeal a property assessment online, use one of the following services:
- Objective Appeal Form: File an objective appeal if your assessment includes statistical or processing errors.
- Subjective Appeal Form: File a subjective appeal for opinion-based errors. Examples include the property condition, market adjustments or trending factors.
How to protect yourself from tax trouble:
- Call the county treasurer and make sure your current address is on file
- Pay your property tax bill when you get it
- Check with your mortgage company to make sure they took care of it
- Pay online or in person and keep your receipt
- Many counties offer flex pay, auto pay, and payment plans
-
2-year-old dies after house fire on Indianapolis' south side
A 2-year-old boy who was rescued from a house fire on Indy's south side Saturday night has died from his injuries, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.
New ‘Fever Confidence’ leadership program empowers local high school seniors
A brand-new leadership program designed to build confidence and empower young women tipped off Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Man arrested in deadly northwest side shooting
One person is dead following a shooting on the city's west side Saturday evening, according to Indianapolis Police.
Airlines add championship flights as Indiana celebrates big win
IU football fans have another reason to celebrate, as multiple airlines are scrambling to add flights to help Hoosiers get to Miami for the championship game.
