FAQ

1. What are the duties of the Assessor?
2. What The Assessor Does Not Do.
3. How is fair market value determined?
4. How is assessed value determined?
5. How are taxes calculated?

6. Can my property tax increase even if no new taxes are passed?

7. What if I disagree with the assessor's value of my property?

What are the duties of the Assessor?

Louisiana law requires that tax assessors "enumerate and list and assess property" as directed by law. The assessor determines the "fair market value" of each piece of property and then multiplies that by a percentage, set by law, which yields the "assessment value". These results are compiled in an "assessment roll" each year. The assessment roll lists all property in a parish that is subject to ad valorem taxation, and shows the assessed value of each of those properties.

What the Assessor does not do.

The assessor does not raise or lower taxes. The assessor does not make laws. The assessor does not levy taxes or millages to raise money for any state or local public office. The assessor does not collect any property taxes. The assessor does not set the amount of taxes to be collected. The assessor does not decide who is the rightful owner of a piece of property if more than one person claims ownership of that property.

How is fair market value determined?

The fair market value of property might be thought of as the "appraised value" in laymen terms. The assessor is required to follow guidelines issued by the Louisiana Tax Commission in appraising property. When appraising property, the assessor will employ different valuation methods, including cost approach, the income approach and the sales comparison approach, and then reconcile the results of these approaches to form a single value. On commercial property, much the same is done, but the assessor also applies a depreciation schedule set by the Tax Commission to reduce the value, when required by law to do so.

How is assessed value determined?

The assessed value of property is a percentage of the property's fair market value. The percentages applied to the fair market are set by law and not by the assessor, and those percentages are as follows:

Land (residential or commercial) 10%

Improvements (residential purposes only) 10%

Electric Cooperative Properties,

excluding land 15%

Public service properties, excluding land 25%

All other commercial or industrial property 15%

Some properties are assessed at 10% of their "use value" and not their fair market value. This would include bona fide agricultural, horticultural, marsh and timberlands as defined by law.

How are taxes calculated?

Many parish and local taxes are based on a percentage of the assessed value of your property. This is commonly referred to as a "millage". A tax rate of 100 mills on your property would be equal to $10.00 for every $1000.00 of assessed value of your property.

So if your property has an assessed value of $5,000.00 then a tax of 100 mills will result in a tax bill to you in the amount of $50.00

Can my property tax increase even if no new taxes are passed?

Yes. If your property increases in value due to a good market or due to improvements or additions you have made to your property, then your assessed value will increase. If your assessed value increases, then your tax bill will go up unless tax millages go down. Some local taxing districts have the authority to "roll back" millages if increased assessed values result in tax collections beyond that which the district reasonably needs.

What if I disagree with the assessor's value of my property?

As a taxpayer, you have a certain legal responsibility to furnish correct information on your property to the assessor's office. If you have complied with these legal requirements, you are entitled to question values placed on your property. If you opinion of the value of your property differs from the assessor's, you may go to the assessor's office to discuss the matter. Be prepared to show once that the assessor's valuation of the property is too high. The staff will be glad to answer your questions about the assessor's appraisal, explaining how it was done. The assessor's office must rely on the property owner for information, and you can help by providing accurate data. If, after discussing the matter with the assessor, and a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal your assessment to the St. Mary Parish Board of Review. If the Board, after hearing your petition agrees with the assessor, a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal the Board's decision to the Louisiana State Tax Commission. If the Commission agrees with the Board and the assessor, you can plead your case before the courts should you choose to do so.