The amount Utahns pay in property tax varies from house to house, and lot to lot, based on what elected county assessors think a property is worth. But information on those assessments has not always been easily accessible to all Utah residents.
Utah State Auditor John Dougall announced a new tool Wednesday for the public to check the valuation of any property in the state at PropertyValues.utah.gov. The tool, a news release said, “is the result of taxpayer concerns about inequitable valuations and questions about adequate oversight.”
“The release of the new Property Values Tool brings greater transparency to Utah taxpayers,” Dougall said in a written statement. “The Utah constitution requires uniform and equal treatment of properties in Utah. This tool will help Utahns better monitor that effort.”
Information in the Property Values Tool includes data compiled from counties throughout the state, which was provided by county assessors, according to the auditor’s office.
Nine counties — Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Kane, Sanpete, Summit, Uintah, Wasatch and Wayne — have not submitted data to the state, according to the tool, and Sevier County’s data is still being processed.
Any errs in the data should be directed to individual counties, a disclaimer on the tool says. If Utahns think there is an issue with the assessed value of their property, they have the right to appeal the valuation to a county board of equalization.
Appeals for this year’s assessments are due to the county board of equalization by Sept. 15, or 45 days after valuation notices are mailed. Counties hold hearings and make decisions on those appeals through Oct. 1.
Rejected appeals can be taken to the Utah State Tax Commission and, if necessary, to court.
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