Being a True Patriot: No Taxation without Fair Valuation

Over 200 years ago the colonists chanted, "No taxation without fair representation." The tyrannical government of England, at the time, was demanding high levies and taxes on the colonists while ignoring their pleas and demands. These men and women were the public from which this great nation grew. Some would say they were imbued with the type of patriotism we long to see in the politicians of today and even ourselves.

Well, I would argue you could be a patriot and still save thousands of dollars in this economy. The people of California amended the state constitution by passing two propositions that empowered California property owners to demand fair property valuations and lower property taxes: proposition 8 and proposition 13. Together these propositions provide California homeowners with the ability to demand a property tax reassessment and prepare a property tax appeal.

The County Assessor offices throughout the state of California assess each property based on the fair market value of the property with one important exception. Proposition 13 prohibits the government from increasing the assessed value of your property by more than 2% each year. This measure protects homeowners by limiting the possibility of a dramatic increase in property taxes each year. Therefore, when the real estate market falls, the California government is responsible for ensuring the assessed value equals the fair market value of the property. For this reason, property owners may request property tax abatement pursuant to proposition 8, or a decline-in-value.

These times are difficult. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is at a twelve year low and the values in the housing market are continuing to decline. A property tax reduction will put more money in consumers’ hands and provide the fuel necessary to keep this machine of an economy running; that is assuming the property owners spend it. Additionally, a property tax decrease for your home may just be the very thing necessary to prevent foreclosure and keep your home or to provide enough cash to afford other necessities in life.

The process can be rather tedious and littered with obstacles, but with some knowledge you can do it on your own without expensive property tax consultants. The first step is to determine the fair market value of your home. Then, you would want to file a proposition 8 with the Assessor’s office and a property tax appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. This is a simplification of the process, but you can find online instruction which will walk you through the process of how to file for a property tax reassessment and property tax appeal on your own. The Property Tax Appeal Copilot program has been carefully assembled for homeowners like you who want to save thousands of dollars in the coming years.

So, how then is it patriotic for property owners to demand a property tax reassessment? The answer is that the only power of a law or in this case a state constitutional amendment is the people’s ability to enforce that law through its representatives and themselves. Californians did not amend their state constitution for no reason. Because of times like today with falling property values, the California people demanded the government to review properties for a property tax reduction. Demanding a property tax decrease because your property value fell from when you bought it, for example in 2005, reinforces the tenants of American patriotism: fairness, justice, equality, and rule of law. Where would this country be if the will of its people were denied because of apathy, ignorance, or fear?

Demand: no taxation without fair valuation! It is a part of the California Constitution. And, as a true American patriot, we should demand that our rule of law be enforced in the best possible way. California homeowners can be patriots and save thousands of dollars by requiring a property tax appeal.

If you want to save yourself thousands of dollars this year and in the coming years - demand a property tax reassessment. You can prepare your property tax appeal yourself easily with an excellent program called the Property Tax Appeal Copilot. In just a few short hours, you will have a professional appeal ready to submit to your local county assessor. Visit PropertyTaxAppealCopilot.com to find out how easy it is to do it yourself and save thousands.

Demand a Property tax Reduction! It's Patriotic.
Find out why homeowners currently are in an excellent position to demand a property tax reduction.