State officials are warning Maryland homeowners about an official looking letter being sent by a private company that promises a property tax reduction for a $99 filing fee.
The notice, which reads "real property overassessment important information for property owners," appears to be a government notice and offers to file an appeal on a property's owner's behalf, the state's Department of Assessments and Taxation said Tuesday.
The assessments department said it never charges a fee for filing a "petition to review" or for any other property assessment appeal. And the deadline to file a petition is Dec. 31, not June 1 as the letter says.
"SDAT is not a part of this questionable business practice in which there is no guarantee that an appeal will result in a property tax savings," said Owen Charles, the department's acting director.
Property owners have the right to appeal their assessments if they disagree with values determined by the department. Appeals can be filed when a homeowner receives an assessment notice, through a petition for review or when a property is purchased between Jan. 1 and June 30.