Residents Can Have Property Tax Assessment Notices Reviewed

Roosevelt County residents are reminded that they can request a review of their property assessment notices by the Montana Department of Revenue.

Thomas Nichols, assessor consultant of Roosevelt County, explains that every two years the Montana Department reassesses all the real estate properties in the state.

“This year is a property reappraisal year and the new values will be effective for the 2021 and 2022 tax years,” Nichols said. “In the past couple of years, the DOR has sent out assessment notices to all real estate property owners notifying them of the values the DOR is placing on their properties.”

Taxpayers from throughout the county have expressed questions regarding the new values to Nichols’ office during the last couple of weeks. Questions have included land values or substantial increases in improvements of their businesses, homes or garages.

“In Wolf Point and Poplar, the taxpayers’ questions involve the increases in improvement values,” Nichols said. “In Culbertson and Bainville, their questions are about the huge increase in some values of town lots.”

Nichols explained that in Culbertson, for example, a single lot that was valued at $6,400 last year now may have a Department of Revenue value of $27,000.

“In visiting with realtors and loan closing agents, they state lots typically sell for $5,000 to $7,000 in Culbertson and Bainville,” he added.

Taxpayers have the opportunity to request an informal review with the Department of Revenue to contest these news values.

“In cases where the values seem unrealistic, I would encourage taxpayers to request a review,” Nichols said.

The Department of Revenue provides a review request in the Notice of Assessment packet and the form is also available on the DOR website at: https://app.mt.gov/myrevenue/ Endpoint/Form/AB-26?from=Directory Residents must be aware that there’s only about a 30-day window to request a review and that period ends in early August.

“While our office cannot change assessed valuations, we can assist taxpayers with conveying their concerns about assessed valuations to the DOR,” Nichols said.

His office is located in the Roosevelt County Courthouse.