Understanding Maryland Property Taxes and Key Dates for Filing an Appeal
May 3, 2019Maryland Property Taxes at a Glance:
Here are some interesting facts and figures about property taxes and filing deadlines n Maryland.
The median property tax in Maryland is $2,774.00 per year for a home worth the median value of $318,600.00. Counties in Maryland collect an average of 0.87% of a property’s assessed fair market value as property tax per year.
Maryland has one of the highest property tax rates in the nation, with only 10 states surpassing it. Maryland’s median income is $86,881 per year, so the median yearly property tax paid by Maryland residents is 3.19% of their yearly income. Maryland is ranked 19th of the 50 states for property taxes as a percentage of median income.
The exact property tax levied depends on the county in Maryland the property is located in. Howard County collects the highest property tax in Maryland, levying an average of $4,261.00 (0.93% of median home value) yearly in property taxes, while Garrett County has the lowest property tax in the state, collecting an average tax of $1,173.00 (0.69% of median home value) per year. (Source: tax-rates.org)
How Property Taxes are Assessed in Maryland
In Maryland, property taxes are collected on a county-by-county basis, and each has its own method for assessing and collecting property tax. Due to this variability, there is no single property tax rate applicable to all properties within the state.
Exact property tax rates vary by country and are determined by the local property tax assessor. Median property taxes for each county are provided below:
| Allegany | $ 1,185 |
| Anne Arundel | $ 2,456 |
| Baltimore (City) | $ 1,850 |
| Baltimore (County) | $ 2,358 |
| Calvert | $ 2,745 |
| Caroline | $ 1,676 |
| Carroll | $ 2,796 |
| Cecil | $ 2,217 |
| Charles | $ 2,678 |
| Dorchester | $ 1,488 |
| Frederick | $ 3,082 |
| Garrett | $ 1,173 |
| Harford | $ 2,582 |
| Howard | $ 4,261 |
| Kent | $ 1,886 |
| Montgomery | $ 3,690 |
| Prince George’s | $ 3,216 |
| Queen Anne’s | $ 2,347 |
| Somerset | $ 1,174 |
| St. Mary’s | $ 2,164 |
| Talbot | $ 1,751 |
| Washington | $ 1,865 |
| Wicomico | $ 1,530 |
| Worcester | $ 1,790 |
Appealing a Property Tax Assessment
If you are a Maryland property owner, you should receive a Notice of Assessment every 3 years This statement reflects both the old and new assessed value of your property. If you feel the assessment value assigned to your property is inaccurate, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation does provide an appeals process.
You may appeal either online or by completing and returning the appeal form included with your Notice of Assessment. Appeals must be received within 45 days of the notice date. The state attempts to address all reassessments by June 1 of the year in which they are filed, though high numbers of appeals can result in delays.
You may also petition for a review by the first business day following January 1, for the 2 years that the property was not valued at reassessment. A pdf of that form can be downloaded here. After you file a written appeal, you will be scheduled for a hearing; or if you prefer, your written appeal can be reviewed in lieu of hearing.
A third option is to appeal upon purchase of a new property. If you purchase a property after January 1 but before July 1, you may file an appeal of assessment. That appeal must be fled within 45 days of the transfer of the property. That form can be downloaded here.
If you believe you have cause to appeal your home’s assessed value or believe your property taxes are unduly high due to an assessment error, Home Tax Savings can help.
Home Tax Savings will provide you with a COST FREE assessment to help you determine whether your property has been overvalued, and whether your appeal is worth pursuing. We base our assessment on a careful analysis of property sales in your neighborhood to see how your home compares. If we find that an appeal would not be in your best interests, you pay nothing.
If we find that an appeal is warranted and would prove beneficial to you, Home Tax Savings can provide the expert guidance, documentation an e-filing tools you need to file your appeal.
Contact Home Tax Savings today and learn what how much we can save for you.
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About HomeTaxSavings.com
HomeTaxSavings.com is wholly owned by Assessment Solutions, LLC and was established in 2016 as the nation’s first fully automated and integrated real estate assessment review and appeal system. The principals of HomeTaxSavings.com have worked in the real estate and IT world for over 100 years. Founders Keith McIntosh, Stuart Smith, Rachel Brown and Mandeep Sandhu possess a vast knowledge of the industry with many years of experience. The group is gaining wide popularity having covered The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, California and Washington.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The HomeTaxSavings.com website is not a market value appraisal, rather it is an assessment tool.