Property Tax Assessment Appeals Cautions

Aloha Kakou:

With the recent mailings by Maui County of your property tax assessment, Danny Agsaolong, the Maui County director of finance wrote a letter to the Maui News regarding appeals. Following is his quote regarding an appeal based on leashold versus fee simple:

"Assessments for leasehold apartments are another point of confusion. Leasehold property is assessed at its base, fee simple value. In most cases, a property owners' leasehold agreement obligates them - and not the landlord - to pay the property taxes. While this comes as a shock to many leasehold apartment owners, this is the way the law is written and the way that it must be enforced. Appeals based on the challenge that a leasehold property is not the same and should not be assessed at fee simple rates may not succeed."

You can see his entire letter here:

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/547499/Viewpoint--Some-things-to-consider-before-filing-an-appeal-to-real-property-tax-assessment.html?nav=18