Tax assessments were mailed out and have come to a mailbox near you!  We have received so many phone calls from property owners (most on Flathead Lake) wishing to appeal an increase, that we have created this resource to help out.

To figure out about what your taxes will be under the phase in, use this handy  calculating form provided by the MT Dept of Revenue.  Remember this is based on the mill levy from 2008 so it could change if this changes for 2009.  Have your assessment in front of you because you'll need to enter the 2002 & 2008 values plus know what your 2008 Mill Levy was.

STEP 1: Appeal your real estate assessment in Montana - Use Montana AB-26 Form

This form must be used within 30 days of receiving your assessment.  If you don't appeal within the 30 day window (typically ends in October), you'll have to appeal by other ways (see Step 2) or wait until next year. You'll need to provide with this form the comparable properties on which you are basing your appeal which closed at the time assessments were done. Data is provided in the links below for sale between Aug 2006 and Aug 2008.  Please phone us to assist you with available sales data on other lakes in Flathead and Lake County.

Here are many of the sales from Aug 2006 - Aug 2008 on Flathead Lake. (Note if the link has trouble loading try hitting the Print button and then Preview, then all Selections)
RESIDENTIAL SALES on Flathead Lake

VACANT LAND SALES on Flathead Lake

STEP 2: Paying your taxes Under Protest -  This is an important form to use in order to have a refund this year IF your assessment is ultimately reduced.  If you do not send in this form with your tax payment, then in the event your assessment is actually reduced, you won't get the refund for this year (You would for subsequent years, but not this one.)  Below are the Flathead and Lake county forms.  If you live in another county you should call the Treasurer's office in that county to see if they have created a form.  If they have not, then include the information required on these forms as it is the same.

Flathead County form
Lake County form

At the bottom of the page is a bit of a confusing statement: "..if no action is taken within 90 days of the date of the notice of taxes due..." - What this means is that you had to have done one of the 5 actions noted on this form (A-E in Lake County or 1-5 in Flathead County)  Most people will have filed the AB-26 form at the top of the list.  If you have done that then you have fulfilled  the action requirement.  If you didn't file the AB-26 form, then you'll need to do one of the other 4 action items within the 90 day timeframe to have a valid protest.

If you fill out this form and then never do any of the 5 action items then your protest is invalid and "the treasurer shall disperse the amount paid..to the appropriate fund".... This means it will go into the state coffers and you won't see any refund.

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NOTICE OF BIGFORK AREA TOWN MEETING FROM MT Rep Scott Reichner:

 When: Thursday, Nov. 19th, 2009
 Where: Bigfork Elementary School
 Time: 6:30- 8:30PM
 Hosted by: Scott Reichner (House Rep), Verdell Jackson (Senate Rep) and Scott Williams, Dept of Revenue Property Assessor Manager
Agenda: Presentation and Explanation of Reappraisal Q and A

Let's go and offer ideas for reform, we know the system is flawed, so let's fix it!! We are holding a Reappraisal Town Hall meeting for Bigfork. Sponsored by Rep. Scott Reichner and Senator Verdell Jackson. Location is at the Bigfork Elementary School Cafeteria, on Nov 19th at 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Department of Revenue, property assessors manager Scott Williams will also be there to answer question, as well as other Legislators. Please come to express concern and offer ideas for reform.

Please get the message out to our community. We need all Flathead and Lake county residents of Bigfork to attend. Including Woods Bay, Yellow and Blue Bay residents, along with Ferndale, Swan Lake, Eagle Bend, Many Lakes, Echo Lake and Swan River areas.  Please help me get the word out to all those who wish to voice their concern of our high property taxes.
-Scott Reichner