Are you paying too much tax?

Editor:

My sister lives in Villas West and purchased her unit in June 2003. This is the first piece of property she has purchased on her own and we were under the assumption that the title company and closing process would assure that all of the t’s were crossed and i’s dotted.

It has come to her attention that her property has been incorrectly rated “Class 4” by the Assessors Office since the time of purchase.

The “Affidavit of Property Value” notarized and recorded in Pima County as completed by the title company at closing, section 7, asks for the Residential Buyer’s intended use. Hers was checked: “to be occupied by owner or family member.”

We contacted the Assessors office and they told us that they do not use this form to set or change the property class and that it is the responsibility of the owner to make them aware that they are not renting.

Is there something wrong with this picture? Why have a legal form prepared if the government office indicates you can’t count on this form to do the job?

How many people in Green Valley have purchased property formerly used as rental and are unaware that their property was never changed from Class 4 “rental” to Class 3 “owner occupied?”

The tax rate for rental property is higher than owner occupied, therefore she has been paying a higher rate since the date of purchase. They will only go back three years to rebate any money overpaid.

You may want to take a close look at your Residential Notice of Value mailed each year from the Assessor. The Class is shown in the first column around mid-page. If you can’t find that form, you can call the Assessors Office at 740-8630 to make sure your class is correct.

Marianne Bishop, Green Valley