Texas Senate Bill SB1614

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the correction of an ad valorem tax appraisal roll.

Impact

The enactment of SB1614 will provide a clearer and more proactive pathway for correcting appraisal errors, ultimately aiming to enhance transparency and accuracy in property tax assessments. Property owners who may have been unfairly taxed due to errors in the appraisal roll can seek corrections, thereby potentially decreasing their tax burden. The bill signifies a move towards more equitable treatment of property taxpayers, allowing for greater accountability in tax appraisal processes.

Summary

SB1614 addresses the correction of ad valorem tax appraisal rolls in Texas. This bill amends Section 25.25(c) of the Tax Code to allow property owners or the chief appraiser to request changes to the appraisal roll for the five preceding years under specific circumstances. Notably, these changes can be made to rectify clerical errors, handle cases of multiple appraisals, exclude non-existent properties, and correct ownership errors as well as to remove properties not located within the appraisal district during the relevant tax year.

Contention

While the bill promotes corrective measures favorable to property owners, there may be discussions surrounding the administrative burden it places on appraisal review boards and tax authorities. Some stakeholders might argue that the amendment could lead to an increase in requests for corrections, complicating the appraisal processes and making them more labor-intensive. Additionally, while aiming for fairness in assessments, there is the potential for differing interpretations of what constitutes a 'clerical error' or 'multiple appraisals', which could lead to disputes or inconsistencies in how corrections are applied.