REAL ESTATE TAXES: PHILADELPHIANS ARE (QUITE) APPEALING

Now that most Philadelphia property owners have received notification that they will have to pay higher Real Estate Taxes next year because the Board of Revision of Taxes has increased their property values for tax purposes, we call on Philadelphians to act... 

All property owners should appeal their assessments as the entire system has been demonstrated to be systematically unfair -- some properties are underassessed while others are overassessed -- and this reassessment does nothing to improve the flaws of the current system.  To review appeal proceedures, visit -- http://brtweb.phila.gov/brt.apps/OnlineApps/appeal_home.aspx.

Appealers should cite "nonuniformity" -- homes with similar values are paying different tax bills -- as the reason for the appeal.  Even if you are underassessed and even if you are paying less than your suburban friends, you should appeal because no matter how undervalued your house is, SOMEONE is getting a better deal than you and that is not right. 

As we move toward the October 1st appeal deadline, Philadelphia Forward will be working to educate Philadelphians about the problems with the current system and how they can appeal their assessments.  As a service, we will supply homeowners with data and examples of homes that are dramatically underassessed -- paying taxes on 10 percent of their recent purchase price -- to substantiate their appeal claim of "nonuniformity."

Here is the problem in a nutshell:  looking at the recent Real Estate Transactions published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, two very different homes were recently sold for two very different prices, but look at the tax bills.

2339 Saint Albans Street (19146)
$480,000 Purchase Price - $1,219.11 Annual Tax Bill
A 2,052-square foot, 3-Story Row Home in Grays Ferry/SW Center City

3317 Holme Avenue (19114)
$88,500 Purchase Price - $1,391.00 Annual Tax Bill
A 1,132-square foot, 2-Story Row Home w/basement & garage in Academy Gardens/NE Phila

It is unconscionable that the homeowner who just purchased her property for $88,500 is paying MORE in taxes than the homeowners who purchased their property for $480,000.  The owner of the less-expensive home is effectively paying her taxes based on a rate more than six times higher than the owners of the more-expensive home.

Every day that we do not correct this system is a fraud perpetuated against the owner of 3317 Holme Avenue and others who are (by comparison) paying too much.  The ENTIRE SYSTEM is systematically flawed and some property owners are getting a better deal than others.  Until ALL properties are valued fairly, NO taxpayer should be forced to pay more.