Appeals Process

Section 172 of the Constitution of Kentucky requires that all property be assessed for taxation at 100% of its fair cash value. The assessment date is January 1 of each year. Fair cash value is defined as the price a property would bring with a voluntary sale and a willing buyer and seller.

When a value of real property changes from the previous year’s assessment, the PVA is required to send the property owner a notice of change. Assessment notices are mailed out prior to the beginning of the inspection period, annually. When property owners disagree with the new assessed value, the first step in the appeals process is to schedule a conference with the PVA or a Deputy.

By law (KRS 133.120), property owners (or their authorized representatives) have the right to appeal their assessment each year during the annual open inspection period by beginning a Conference with PVA. A person representing a property owner before the PVA must present written authorization from the property owner which sets forth his or her professional capacity and must disclose to the PVA any personal or private interests he or she may have in the matter, including any contingency fee arrangements. Attorneys are not required to disclose the terms and conditions of any contingency fee arrangement. An authorized representative must be qualified as required by the Kentucky Department of Revenue and submit evidence of such qualification to the PVA Office at the time of the conference.

Conferences can be held in person with an appointment or via telephone.

At the conference

At the conference, the PVA, or a designated Deputy, will explain how the new assessment was calculated. All information used in the reassessment should be presented to the property owner. Likewise, the property owner must be prepared to show documentation to support their opinion of the value of their property. Examples are:

• Interior/exterior photos showing condition of property.
• A recent full appraisal of your property.
• Your homeowner’s or commercial property insurance policy.
• Documentation of recent comparable sales (not assessments) that are similar to your property in size, condition, location and characteristics. Recent residential sales should be within the last 2 years of the current assessment date; commercial sales within the last 5 years. Comparable sales must be arm’s length transactions. Foreclosures, short sales, and family sales are not considered arm’s length sales. An Arm’s Length Transaction is a property sold at “fair cash value” between a willing Seller and a Buyer after being advertised on the Open Market.
• Property Comparison Worksheets (Residential / Commercial) are included with the Conference Form.
• Your listing contract if your property is currently for sale.
• Estimates of any repairs.
• Original construction costs or cost of additions or improvements to your property.
• For rental or commercial properties, your lease contract or your income and expense statements for the last 3 years (an Income and Expense Worksheet is included with the Conference Form).
• Documentation of land characteristics that support flood plain, environmental contamination, deed restrictions and easements, etc.

If an agreement is not reached as the result of your PVA conference, you may appeal to the Local Board of Assessment Appeals.

Filing an Appeal with the Local Board of Assessment Appeals

A written record is maintained by the PVA of each conference held. Upon completion of the conference with the PVA, a copy of the written summary results will be provided to the property owner. This copy is to be retained by the property owner and presented to the County Clerk showing that a conference was held with the PVA. After this presentation, an appeal is filed. The property owner must obtain and complete an appeals form from the County Clerk’s office in Laurel County. The appeals form requires the property owner to provide general information about the property under appeal, confirmation that a conference was held with the PVA, and the owner’s opinion of the fair cash value of the property and why the assessment is too high. The County Clerk’s office will schedule a hearing and notify all property owners when and where their appeal hearing will be held. The last date to file an appeal is one working day after the close of the inspection period (if the inspection period closes on the third Monday of May, all appeals must be filed by close of business on the third Tuesday in May).

Appearing Before the Local Board of Assessment Appeals

All real property assessment appeals are heard by a three-member panel known as the Local Board of Assessment Appeals, comprised of three local residents who are knowledgeable about real estate values in Laurel County. The hearings are informal. Property owners do not have to hire an attorney or professional representative. Any compensated representative must be an attorney, a certified real estate appraiser, a Kentucky licensed real estate broker, an employee of the taxpayer, or any other individual possessing a professional appraisal designation recognized by the Revenue Cabinet, and must present written authorization from the property owner stating professional capacity and any personal interests including contingency fee arrangements (attorneys need not disclose contingency fees). At the hearing, the PVA will present information in support of the assessment and the property owner must present factual evidence to support his or her claim of value.

Worksheets

The Property Comparison Worksheets (Residential and Commercial) and the Income and Expense Worksheet are listed on the Forms page.