Where do I get information about Homeowner's Principal Residence Exemption Affidavits?
Homeowner's Principal Residence Exemption Affidavit
Principal Residence Affidavit forms are also available at the Assessor’s Office. This affidavit allows you to claim an exemption from some school operating taxes. For your homestead to be eligible, you must own and occupy it as your legal and principal residence.
Where do I get information about Property Transfer Affidavits?
Property Transfer Affidavits are also available at the Assessor’s Office. This affidavit is required to be filed whenever real estate is transferred (even if you do not record a land contact or deed). The Affidavit shall be filed with the Assessor’s Office within 45 days of the transfer. If it is not filed on time, the property owner is subject to a penalty. The assessor reviews this form to ensure the property is assessed properly and given the correct taxable value for the year following the transfer of property.
Where do I get a copy of the deed to my property?
Deeds are available at the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds Office (200 N Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104).
Contact Washtenaw County Register of Deeds: (734) 222-6710
Where can I get a copy of my tax bill? How much are my taxes? Where do I pay my taxes? When are my taxes due?
Tax information can be obtained from the Treasurer's Office.
Contact Treasurer's Office: (734) 484 - 1002
Where can I get a survey of my property?
You should have a copy of your survey in your closing package from your home purchase. The Township does not have a survey of your property. You can obtain one by hiring a surveyor. They are listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book.
What is assessed value and state equalized value and why does the Assessor still have to determine assessed value if it isn't used for the tax bill anymore?
The calculation of Assessed Value is required by law and it should approximate 50% of true cash (market) value. Equalization refers to the process that makes sure that all local units of government and all counties are assessing at 50% of true cash value. The assessed value will be referred to State Equalized Value after this process.
What is capped value?
Every year the assessing office must calculate the capped value of each property. Losses are reductions to taxable value such as a house that burns down, a property is now exempt, a garage is torn down, etc. Additions include any new construction including houses, decks, etc. Additions also include property no longer exempt and structures that were not previously assessed.
Where does the inflation rate come from?
By law the inflation rate is the annual inflation rate (Consumer Price Index) as published by the State Tax Commission or 5% - whichever is less.
Assessed Value becomes State Equalized Value and is supposed to be 50% of market value; Capped Value is calculated according to the formula that considers inflation and construction changes, what is Taxable Value?
Every year the State Equalized Value is compared to the Capped Value; whichever is less becomes the Taxable Value. The Taxable Value is the value that is used to calculate the tax bill.
I just bought my house last year and now my taxes have doubled. How did that happen?
Part of the new law that was approved by voters in 1994 (Proposal A) says that for the assessment year after the sale, which is what we call a transfer of ownership, the taxable value has to “catch up” to the Assessed Value. We refer to this as “un-capping” the Taxable Value. Because it has been 10 years since the law took effect, there is a very big difference between Taxable Value and Assessed Value for many properties. After the initial year of “catching up”, the Taxable Value is limited again by the capped formula.
Why do my mortgage payments go up so much more the year after I bought the property?
Many times the escrow for taxes is set up using the previous owners taxes as a guide. The previous owners taxes will, in most cases, be much lower than the new owners. Because the increase isn't seen until the following tax year, many times the mortgage company doesn't make an adjustment until the escrow is reviewed a year after the jump in taxes; sometimes it is almost 2 years after the transfer of ownership that the mortgage company contacts you about adjusting the payments.
I inherited my parent's house, I didn't buy it, why did my taxes go up so much?
A transfer of ownership doesn't necessarily mean that money has to change hands. If you are thinking about adding someone to the title or taking someone off the title of your property, you can call us and we will give you information about what types of transactions will “un-cap” the taxable value.