Berks County
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Berks County, Pennsylvania
Berks County Services Center 3rd Floor 633 Court Street
Reading, Pennsylvania 19601
Tel: 610-478-6262
Fax: 610-478-6261
County Website: Berks county
Assessor Website: Berks county assessor
Berks County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- Check https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Assessment/Documents/Fillable_Appeal_Form.pdffor Appeal Form
- Obtain the assessed valuation of your property.
- Determine the fair market value for your property.
- Discuss the assessment with your assessor.
- Determine the basis for your formal appeal.
- File a written appeal with your Board of Review.
- Present evidence of unfair assessment to the Board of Review at the hearing
- Appeal the Board of Review's decision to the State Property Tax Appeal Board (in writing) in the event of an unsatisfactory decision by the Board of Review.
URLs
The Berks County Board of Assessment Appeals announces as of July 1, that the Regular appeal period is open. Regular appeals can be filed each year from July 1 to August 15. Results of the appeal are effective for the following tax year.
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Berks county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Berks county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Berks 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. Berks 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 Berks 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 Berks 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 Berks 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 Berks 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 Berks county Pennsylvania tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Berks County
Homes in Berks county have a median home value of $187,001.
Berks county home values are ranked 14 out of 67 counties in the state of Pennsylvania for median home price. The average median home value in Pennsylvania is $152,124. Cameron county has the lowest median price at $77,620. Chester county has the highest median price at $369,273.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Berks county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~43%.
The median household income in Berks county is $66,154.
Compared to the state of Pennsylvania and the United States, Berks county's median household income is higher than the state of Pennsylvania's average median household income of $58,553 and the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Berks county's population has grown from 336,523 in 1990 to 428,849 in 2020, an increase of 27% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Pennsylvania's population has grown from 11,882,842 in 1990 to 13,002,700 in 2020, an increase of 9.4% 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.
Berks county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is greater than the population change for Pennsylvania and less than the population change for United States.
Berks County Pennsylvania Cities
Bally, Barto, Bechtelsville, Bernville, Bethel, Birdsboro, Blandon, Bowers, Boyertown, Centerport, Douglassville, Earlville, Evansville, Geigertown, Hamburg, Hereford, Kempton, Kutztown, Leesport, Lenhartsville, Lyon Station, Mertztown, Mohnton, Mohrsville, Morgantown, Mount Aetna, Mount Penn, New Berlinville, Oley, Reading, Rehrersburg, Robesonia, Shartlesville, Shillington, Shoemakersville, Sinking Spring, Strausstown, Temple, Topton, Wernersville, West Lawn, Womelsdorf, Wyomissing
Berks County Pennsylvania Zipcodes
18056 / 19503 / 19504 / 19505 / 19506 / 19507 / 19508 / 19510 / 19511 / 19512 / 19516 / 19518 / 19519 / 19522 / 19523 / 19526 / 19529 / 19530 / 19533 / 19534 / 19536 / 19539 / 19540 / 19541 / 19543 / 19544 / 19545 / 19547 / 19550 / 19551 / 19554 / 19555 / 19559 / 19560 / 19562 / 19565 / 19567 / 19601 / 19602 / 19604 / 19605 / 19606 / 19607 / 19608 / 19609 / 19610 / 19611 /
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