Whatcom County
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Whatcom County, Washington
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Tel: 360-778-5000
County Website: Whatcom county
Assessor Website: Whatcom county assessor
Whatcom County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- 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.
For assistance in obtaining or filing a petition, please call our office at 360-778-5016, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or email at jschneid@co.whatcom.wa.us.
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Whatcom county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Whatcom county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Whatcom 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. Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom county Washington tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Whatcom County
Homes in Whatcom county have a median home value of $367,751.
Whatcom county home values are ranked 5 out of 39 counties in the state of Washington for median home price. The average median home value in Washington is $245,180. Garfield county has the lowest median price at $151,329. King county has the highest median price at $600,350.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Whatcom county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~182%.
The median household income in Whatcom county is $65,420.
Compared to the state of Washington and the United States, Whatcom county's median household income is higher than the state of Washington's average median household income of $62,134 and the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Whatcom county's population has grown from 127,780 in 1990 to 226,847 in 2020, an increase of 78% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Washington's population has grown from 4,866,669 in 1990 to 7,705,281 in 2020, an increase of 58% 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.
Whatcom county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is greater than the population change for Washington and the United States.
Whatcom County Washington Cities
Acme, Bellingham, Blaine, Custer, Everson, Ferndale, Glacier, Lummi Island, Lynden, Point Roberts, Sumas
Whatcom County Washington Zipcodes
98220 / 98225 / 98226 / 98230 / 98240 / 98244 / 98247 / 98248 / 98262 / 98264 / 98281 / 98295 /
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