Washington County
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Washington County, Maryland
100 West Washington Street
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Tel: 240-313-2200
Fax: 240-313-2201
County Website: Washington county
Assessor Website: Washington county assessor
Washington County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- Get together all the necessary documents, like your property tax bills and any evidence that your home was wrongly valued or that there's incorrect information on your assessment.
- Find out when the deadline is to file an appeal. This is usually within 60 days of getting your assessment notice.
- Reach out to the Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation to get an appeal form and confirm the deadline.
- Fill out the form and attach any supporting documents.
- Submit the completed form and docs to the Department of Land Use and Transportation before the deadline.
Useful links:
Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation: https://www.washco-md.net/services/land-use-transportation/
Info on appealing property taxes in Washington County: https://www.washco-md.net/services/land-use-transportation/property-tax-appeals/
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Washington county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Washington county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Washington county assessor's website to find the phone number to call. If the assessor determines that your property is worth less than the value on which your taxes are based, your property taxes may be lowered.
Tax exemptions
Start by finding what your tax bill is. Typically you will find your tax bill information on your mortgage statement. Look for tax exemptions or credits that you may be eligible for. Many states and localities offer exemptions or credits for homeowners who meet certain criteria, information such as being over a certain age or having a low income. Washington county may have these types of exemptions available for homeowners. These exemptions and credits can lower the property tax you owe.
Appeal tax assessment
Appeal the property tax assessment. If you believe that your property's value has been overestimated, you can typically appeal the assessment to your Washington county tax assessor's office. This is part of the services that your assessor's office provides. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as a recent appraisal or sales data for comparable properties and homes in your area. Usually, you will meet with the Board of Equalization. If your appeal is successful, your property taxes may be lowered.
Challenge the tax rate
Consider challenging the tax rate. In some cases, the amount of property taxes you owe is not based on the value of your property, but on the tax rate set by your local government. If you believe that the tax rate is too high, you can contact your Washington county government and ask them to consider reducing it.
Property Tax Rules
Stay up-to-date on your property's value and property tax rules. For the purpose of lowering your Washington county property tax, property value is the assessed property value and not the market property value. Assessed property value is used for taxation purposes while market property value is what a buyer and seller would likely agree on. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. Your property's value can change over time due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the local real estate market or improvements you make to your property. To ensure that your property taxes are accurate and fair, it is important to stay informed about your property's value and contact Washington county local tax assessor's office if you believe there has been a significant change.
Keep in mind that property tax laws and regulations can vary, so it is important to consult with your Washington county Maryland tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Washington County
Homes in Washington county have a median home value of $220,468.
Washington county home values are ranked 17 out of 24 counties in the state of Maryland for median home price. The average median home value in Maryland is $285,063. Allegany county has the lowest median price at $126,196. Montgomery county has the highest median price at $491,613.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Washington county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~69%.
The median household income in Washington county is $63,510.
Compared to the state of Maryland and the United States, Washington county's median household income is lower than the state of Maryland's average median household income of $80,114 and higher than the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Washington county's population has grown from 121,393 in 1990 to 154,705 in 2020, an increase of 27% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Maryland's population has grown from 4,780,753 in 1990 to 6,177,224 in 2020, an increase of 29% over that time frame.
In the United States, the population has grown from 248,790,925 in 1990 to 331,449,281 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.
Washington county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is less than the population change for Maryland and the United States.
Washington County Maryland Cities
Big Pool, Big Spring, Fahrney Keedy Me, Fair Play, Fort Ritchie, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Hancock, Keedysville, Maugansville, Rohrersville, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, Williamsport
Washington County Maryland Zipcodes
21711 / 21713 / 21719 / 21722 / 21733 / 21734 / 21740 / 21742 / 21750 / 21756 / 21767 / 21779 / 21782 / 21783 / 21795 /
Maryland Counties
Allegany / Anne Arundel / Baltimore / Calvert / Caroline / Carroll / Cecil / Charles / Dorchester / Frederick / Garrett / Harford / Howard / Kent / Montgomery / Prince George's / Queen Anne's / Somerset / St. Mary's / Talbot / Washington / Wicomico / Worcester
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