Otter Tail County
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Otter Tail County, Minnesota
520 Fir Ave. W.
Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56537
Tel: 218-998-8000
County Website: Otter Tail county
Assessor Website: Otter Tail county assessor
Otter Tail County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- Check your property tax statement to make sure everything is legit.
- Get the appeal form from Otter Tail County Auditor-Treasurer's Office, either by mail or in person.
- Fill out the form and explain why you're making an appeal.
- Gather any helpful documents, like property appraisals, surveys or pics.
- Send the appeal form and docs to the Otter Tail County Auditor-Treasurer's Office before the deadline.
- Go to the hearing to say your piece and show off your docs.
- Wait for the board to let you know their verdict.
URLs
- Otter Tail County website: https://ottertailcountymn.us/
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Otter Tail county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Otter Tail county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Otter Tail 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. Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail county Minnesota tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Otter Tail County
Homes in Otter Tail county have a median home value of $203,913.
Otter Tail county home values are ranked 22 out of 87 counties in the state of Minnesota for median home price. The average median home value in Minnesota is $169,752. Traverse county has the lowest median price at $85,101. Carver county has the highest median price at $333,490.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Otter Tail county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~56%.
The median household income in Otter Tail county is $59,456.
Compared to the state of Minnesota and the United States, Otter Tail county's median household income is lower than the state of Minnesota's average median household income of $63,124 and higher than the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Otter Tail county's population has grown from 50,714 in 1990 to 60,081 in 2020, an increase of 18% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Minnesota's population has grown from 4,375,665 in 1990 to 5,706,494 in 2020, an increase of 30% 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.
Otter Tail county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is less than the population change for Minnesota and the United States.
Otter Tail County Minnesota Cities
Battle Lake, Bluffton, Carlisle, Clitherall, Dalton, Deer Creek, Dent, Elizabeth, Erhard, Henning, New York Mills, Ottertail, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Richville, Underwood, Vergas, Vining
Otter Tail County Minnesota Zipcodes
56324 / 56361 / 56515 / 56518 / 56524 / 56527 / 56528 / 56533 / 56534 / 56537 / 56551 / 56567 / 56571 / 56572 / 56573 / 56576 / 56586 / 56587 / 56588 /
Minnesota Counties
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