Tax Court Still Lags Behind In Property Tax Appeals, Audit Finds

Real estate property owners unhappy with their assessments are still often waiting too long on their appeals to the Maryland Tax Court, auditors found, a problem that has persisted since an audit three years ago. But taxpayers can look forward to shorter waiting times to hear their appeals, despite a 25% reduction in staff and a 25% increase in the court’s work load, the court’s chief judge promised.

By law, the five-member Maryland Tax Court must respond to residential property tax assessment appeals within 90 days of their filing.

An audit released Friday said that out of 720 appeals “filed and heard” between July 2010 and February 2013, about 41% “were heard and determined” within 120 to 461 days after their filing dates. That means that the decisions were rendered one month to one year after the 90-day period required by law.

Read more