Industry Facts
There are over 650,000 parcels of real property in King County. The Assessor’s staff cannot physically inspect all of the properties in one given year. Instead, they must rely on computer formulas, factoring, trending, or other technology. These procedures, as well as human error, leave room for inaccuracies.

The assessment process is somewhat arbitrary and highly subjective. Once an error occurs, it compounds over the years. Harley Hoppe & Associates has been successful in reducing the taxable value of hundreds of residential and commercial properties.

Appeal to Pay Your Fair Share
Harley H. Hoppe & Associates specializes in results-oriented property tax appeals.  We believe that the assessed value of a property should reflect 100% of market value.  If the assessed value exceeds market, you are paying more than your fair share of taxes.

Choose the options below that identifies your need and let Harley Hoppe assist you with your questions and property appeal.

Residential & Commercial Property Tax Appeals  

How do you know if your assessed value is too high?
Our firm offers an analysis to determine if your assessed value is above market. Our analysis will inform you of your appeal options.

The deadline to appeal is typically July 1st or 60 days from the mailing date of the revaluation notice, and varies per County. State law allows the taxpayer to appeal annually.

·       A residential appeal is based primarily on the market approach to value. 

·       A commercial appeal is based on the market and income approaches to value.

Other considerations in presenting a successful appeal for a residential or commercial property are: cost to construct, recent appraisal, recent purchase, and adverse conditions. (Examples of adverse conditions are topography, wetlands, steep slopes, age, access, location, zoning changes and deferred maintenance.)

Business & Personal Property Tax Appeals
Every person or company that makes use of such items as machinery, equipment, computers, or furniture in a commercial, industrial, or agricultural enterprise must file a business personal property affidavit by April 30th of each year.

Rapidly changing local and state regulations have made routine affidavit filing a complex and time consuming process.

A professional review of your current year taxes can result in refunds for overpayment for three prior years.

Excise & State Tax Appeals
To address chronic budget shortfalls, State agencies have searched for areas that might produce more revenue. As an example, they have actively pursued perceived under-payments of the use tax and real estate transfer tax.

Harley Hoppe & Associates represents one of the best revenue recovery methods available to businesses today.

We have found errors in the assessment of both the use tax on transfer of furniture and fixtures as well as the real estate transfer tax, where the State sometimes attempts to use unrealistic values when they feel a sale is less than fair market value.  Because our expertise lies in the area of property valuations, we can be instrumental in challenging these discrepancies.  

We offer in-house as well as contract employees in these fields. Our experts have proven track records of success and have acquired their expertise over decades of hands-on experience.