- What is an Informal Hearing?
- What should taxpayers consider in order to
choose between an Equalization Appeal or Payment Under Protest Appeal?
- What is the deadline to request an Equalization
Appeal?
- What is a Valuation Notice?
- How may a copy of a Valuation Notice be
obtained?
- When may one apply for Payment Under Protest?
- What is the date and time of my Informal
Hearing?
- How much time should be allowed for the
Informal Hearing?
- Where will the Informal Hearings be held?
- Is parking available?
- What items should be brought to the Informal
Hearing?
- Who will conduct the Informal Hearing?
- May someone else represent me at the Informal
Hearing?
- Will reschedules be allowed?
- What options are available if circumstances
beyond my control prevent my attendance?
- Are options available to appeal a property
value if the Informal Hearing is missed?
- What actions are required to appeal Informal
Hearing results?
- What are the levels of appealing real property
values up to and including Kansas District Court?
Q. What is an Informal Hearing?
A. An Informal Hearing is an opportunity for a
taxpayer to question or appeal a property value or classification.
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Q. What should taxpayers consider in order to
choose between an Equalization Appeal or Payment Under Protest Appeal?
A. Normally taxpayers would choose an Equalization
Appeal because the property value is appealed before any tax payment is
due. Payment Under Protest can be used if the deadline for Equalization
Appeal was missed. However, one half of the taxes will be due upon
applying for a Payment Under Protest.
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Q. What is the deadline to request an Equalization
Appeal?
A. You have 30 days from the date on the Valuation
Notice to request an Equalization Appeal.
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Q. What is a Valuation Notice?
A. It is the notification of the appraised value
for the coming tax year. A copy of a Valuation Notice with explanations of
the fields may be viewed online.
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Q. How may a copy of a Valuation Notice be
obtained?
A. By following this link
a duplicate notice may be requested. Otherwise, the information needed
will be the Parcel Identification Number and correct mailing address. This
information may be routed to the Appraiser’s Office at (316) 383-8207,
emailed to appcler@sedgwick.gov,
or faxed to (316) 383-8268. Then the notice may be picked up at the
Sedgwick County Courthouse located at 525 N. Main or mailed upon request.
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Q. When may one apply for Payment Under Protest?
A. You may apply for Payment Under Protest when
tax payments are made.
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Q. What is the date and time of my Informal
Hearing?
A. The date and time of your Informal Hearing is
indicated on the front of the confirmation letter.
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Q. How much time should be allowed for the
Informal Hearing?
A. An Informal Hearing usually lasts approximately
15 minutes.
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Q. Where will the Informal Hearings be held?
A. The map enclosed with the appointment
confirmation letter gives directions to our office at 434 N. Market or see
it online.
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Q. Is parking available?
A. There is limited parking available under the
canopy, and meter parking is also available along the streets.
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Q. What items should be brought to the Informal
Hearing?
A. Anything to support the taxpayer’s opinion of
value should be brought to the hearing. Examples of what should support a
taxpayer’s opinion of value would be photos, comparable sales, old value
notices, etc.
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Q. Who will conduct the Informal Hearing?
A. A qualified appraiser from our office will be
assigned to conduct the Informal Hearing.
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Q. May someone else represent me at the Informal
Hearing?
A. Yes, only if you have furnished the Appraiser’s
Office with a signed Declaration of Representative form,
which can be obtained via the Internet or mailed upon request. The
completed Declaration of Representative form can be faxed back to the
Appraiser’s Office at (316) 383-8268 or mailed to Hearing
Coordinator, 434 N. Market, Wichita, KS 67202 or email to apprhear@sedgwick.gov.
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Q. Will reschedules be allowed?
A. Due to the volume of hearings scheduled every
year it is critical for the convenience of all taxpayers for everyone to
keep their scheduled hearing appointment.
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Q. What options are available if circumstances
beyond my control prevent my attendance?
A. For taxpayers who are homebound, have
residences outside of Sedgwick County or are otherwise physically unable to
attend a hearing, a Declaration of Representative may be
acquired online or mailed upon request and sent with your selected
representative to the hearing. Another option for taxpayers (excluding
those on vacation) would be to call (316)383-8269 and schedule a phone
hearing.
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Q. Are options available to appeal a property
value if the Informal Hearing is missed?
A. Failure to appear, or a cancellation of the
scheduled Informal Hearing will result in forfeiture of the right to
protest the tax year in question.
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Q. What actions are required to appeal Informal
Hearing results?
A. If the result of the Informal Hearing is not
satisfactory, the appraiser who held the hearing will provide a form with
instructions on how to appeal to the next level.
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Q. What are the levels of appealing real property
values up to and including Kansas District Court?
A. A guide to the Appeal Process in Kansas is
available free of charge in your County Appraiser's Office or you may view
the flowcharts online by selecting your type of hearing: Equalization
Appeal or Payment Under Protest.
