Tax Appeal Appraisals

Property Tax Appeal Appraisal Services in Santa Barbara County, CA

An overassessed property means you could be paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more in taxes than you should. At Theodore Harmand Appraisals, we provide independent tax appeal appraisals to help homeowners challenge unfair property tax assessments. If you believe your home has been overvalued by the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office, we can provide a professional appraisal report to support your appeal and ensure you’re paying only your fair share of property taxes.

Why Request a Tax Appeal Appraisal?

Property tax assessments are often based on automated valuation models, which don’t always accurately reflect the value of each individual home. These are the most common scenarios we’re hired to perform a tax appeal appraisal for:

  • Your Assessed Value Is Higher Than Market Value – If comparable homes in your area are selling for less than your assessed value, you may be overpaying on property taxes.

  • Your Property Has Unique Factors Not Considered in the Assessment – If your home has deferred maintenance, outdated features, or location challenges, it may be worth less than the county's estimate.

  • Your Home's Value Has Declined Since the Last Assessment – If the market has shifted downward but your assessed value hasn’t adjusted, you could have grounds for an appeal.

How to File a Property Tax Appeal in Santa Barbara County

Here are the general steps you must take to file an appeal:

  1. Review Your Property Tax Assessment

    The first step is to check your annual property tax bill and compare it to recent sales of similar homes in your area. You can find your current assessed value through the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office here.

  2. Determine If You Have Grounds for an Appeal

    You may qualify for a reduction if your home’s assessed value is higher than its fair market value. A professional appraisal can help you confirm whether an appeal is justified.

  3. Submit an Informal Review Request (Optional)

    Before filing a formal appeal, you can request an informal assessment review with the Santa Barbara County Assessor. This step is free and may resolve the issue without needing to file a formal appeal.

  4. File a Formal Appeal with the Santa Barbara County Assessment Appeals Board

    If the informal review doesn’t lower your property value, you can file a formal appeal with the Santa Barbara County Assessment Appeals Board. This requires submitting an application, along with supporting documentation—such as a certified appraisal report—before the annual deadline.

  5. Attend Your Hearing & Present Your Case

    If your appeal moves forward, you may need to attend a hearing where you can present your appraisal report and other supporting evidence. Our detailed, legally defensible appraisals help strengthen your case.

Our Tax Appeal Appraisal Process

Filing an appeal can be complex, so we try to make the appraisal portion as simple as possible for you:

  1. Property Inspection – We assess the condition, features, and location of your home.

  2. Comparable Market Analysis – We research recent home sales in your neighborhood, adjusting for differences to determine your home’s fair market value.

  3. Historical Market Review (if needed) – If filing a retrospective appeal for a prior tax year, we analyze market conditions at the time of the original assessment.

  4. Final Tax Appeal Report – We provide a detailed, USPAP-compliant appraisal report, including supporting data that can be used in informal reviews or formal appeals.

Contact Us Today

If you believe your Santa Barbara County property is overassessed, contact us today. We’re here to help.