County Board of Equalization Appeal

The Idaho Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) is comprised of three members appointed by the Governor to serve in staggered three-year terms. Board members work in a part-time capacity, however are supported by full-time staff in the agency’s Boise office. To guarantee impartiality in decision-making, the BTA is a fully independent and distinct body, separate from the Idaho State Tax Commission and Idaho’s 44 counties.

The BTA hears property valuation and exemption cases, as well as matters involving other state taxation, such as income and sales tax. The BTA also hears appeals regarding property tax reduction benefits. A separate information pamphlet is available for appeals concerning decisions of the Idaho State Tax Commission.

The Board is balanced both in terms of professional experience and political affiliation. By law, no more than two members can be of the same political party. Members are selected on the basis of their knowledge of, and experience in, taxation. In addition, members and staff receive judicial training to aid in their service as administrative law judges.

Hearings are generally held in the county from which the property assessment was issued. In most instances, a hearing is presided over by a single Board member or staff hearing officer. Hearings typically do not exceed one hour and afford each party the opportunity to present the information they wish to be considered and the chance to ask questions of the opposing party. More detailed information concerning hearings, including how to prepare for hearing, can be found in SECTION 4.

Who may file an appeal?

Generally, it is the property owner who appeals a decision of a County Board of Equalization to the Idaho Board of Tax Appeals (BTA). This includes both a written decision issued by a County Board of Equalization or a decision pronounced at a hearing.

Why file an appeal with the BTA?

Anyone adversely affected by a decision of a County Board of Equalization has a right to appeal. An appeal may be filed with either the district court or the BTA. Many choose to file an appeal with the BTA because there are no filing fees and the BTA’s proceedings are less formal than district court. In addition, a final decision of the BTA which changes a property’s valuation is effective for the current tax year and the subsequent tax year, though there are exceptions to this rule.

How do I file an appeal?

Appeals may be hand-delivered or mailed to the county clerk/ auditor for appealing a decision of the County Board of Equalization. For a mailed appeal, the postmark cancellation mark on the envelope is the filing date for purposes of determining whether the appeal is timely filed. If an appeal is correctly mailed within the applicable timeframe it is considered timely, regardless of when the appeal is actually received by the county clerk/auditor.

When must I file an appeal?

You have 30 days from the date a decision of a County Board of Equalization is mailed or such decision is pronounced at hearing to file an appeal.

Where must I file?

An appeal of a decision of the County Board of Equalization must be filed with the clerk/auditor of the county in which the subject property is located. The clerk/auditor forwards the appeal and other materials to the BTA.

What is needed to file an appeal?

Before an appeal may be heard by the BTA it must be perfected. In general terms, a perfected appeal is one filed within the prescribed timeframe and also includes the items detailed on the following page. Appeal forms are available at the county clerk/auditor’s office, on the BTA’s website, or may be requested directly from the BTA. Using an appeal form is not mandatory, however, the appeal form may be helpful in complying with the filing requirements.

Acknowledgment Letter

After an appeal is received by the Board of Tax Appeals (BTA), an acknowledgment letter will be mailed to the parties within 14 days. If the appeal does not appear to be perfected, the acknowledgment letter may request additional information. The date of the acknowledgment letter is the effective date of the appeal for purposes of calculating the timeliness of certain subsequent motions. See the BTA’s procedural rules for more information.

Notice of Hearing

When a perfected appeal is received, a hearing will typically be scheduled within 90 days. A written Notice of Hearing will be mailed to the parties or their representatives at least 20 days prior to the date of hearing. The Notice of Hearing will include the date, time, place, and other instructions for the hearing. The preferred form of hearing is an in-person hearing, however, in some instances a telephonic hearing may be scheduled. When a telephonic hearing is scheduled, the Notice of Hearing will include instructions regarding how to “attend” the hearing.

The Hearing

Hearings are normally conducted by a single presiding officer, which may be one of the Board members or one of the agency’s staff hearing officers. The presiding officer will be specified in the Notice of Hearing. Hearings often do not exceed one hour in length, however, complex appeals or those

with multiple issues or parcels, may require a longer hearing. At hearing, each party will have a full opportunity to present his or her respective case. The parties will also be allowed to ask questions of one another. The information provided by the parties at hearing is submitted for review and decision-making by the full Board. For more information regarding hearings, hearing procedures, or preparing for hearing, please refer to SECTION 4.

Final Decision and Order

After the hearing record has been reviewed, a Final Decision and Order will be issued to the parties. A final decision of the BTA requires the agreement of at least two Board members. All decisions on the merits are in written form and include findings of fact and conclusions of law. Final decisions of the BTA are binding and enforceable against the non-prevailing party, unless the decision is further appealed to district court.

After the Final Decision and Order

A non-prevailing party may request a reconsideration of a Final Decision and Order of the BTA, or a rehearing of the appeal. Any such request must be in writing and must be filed with the BTA within 10 days of the date of the final decision. The request must also be copied to the opposing party. Either party may also appeal a final decision of the BTA to district court. Certain filing requirements and time limits apply.

Purpose of Hearing

The Idaho Constitution requires an opportunity to challenge government actions or decisions affecting a person’s life, liberty, or property. In the context of the Board of Tax Appeals (BTA), taxpayers have the statutory right to contest decisions of county boards of equalization. The most important aspect of these appeal rights is due process, which in basic terms requires a property owner have adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard regarding an exemption or value-related action or decision. Due process protections are embodied in the BTA’s hearing procedures and are critical in fulfilling the agency’s mission “to provide a fully independent and fair review of taxpayer appeals.”

The purpose of the hearing is to create the full record to be used later for decision-making purposes. The hearing is the parties’ primary opportunity to present evidence, testimony, and any other relevant information concerning the issue(s) on appeal. Hearings are usually conducted by one Board member or staff hearing officer. Parties are notified in writing of the date, time, and location of the hearing.

Hearings before the BTA are de novo, which is Latin for “anew.” In basic terms, this means everything starts over. The parties are not bound by the evidence offered before the County Board of Equalization. Both parties have a fresh opportunity to present relevant evidence and information, regardless of whether such material was previously offered.

Preparing for Hearing

In an effort to present the “best case” possible, hearing participants are encouraged to spend time prior to hearing organizing the arguments and information they wish to put forth. An important part of this preparation is making sure there are enough copies of the documents a party plans to introduce at the hearing. The BTA requires each party to bring at least three (3) full sets of documents to the hearing: one (1) original for the presiding officer and one (1) copy for each party. It is also helpful to have exhibits arranged in the order which the party intends to present them and to include page numbers.

Parties are similarly encouraged to consider how their witnesses, if any, will participate in the hearing. The presiding officer may take some time prior to the start of hearing to coordinate with the parties regarding the participation of witnesses. If a party intends to call multiple witnesses, it is recommended the party contact the BTA prior to hearing to ensure needed accommodations are in place.

Exhibits for Hearing

As previously noted, each party must bring 1 original and 2 copies of each exhibit to the hearing. Unless ordered by the BTA, there is no requirement to pre-file hearing exhibits.

Depending on the type of appeal, exhibits might vary in terms of form and substance. The following are examples for different appeal types. Please keep in mind the list of examples is not exhaustive.

Property valuation appeal. Exhibits for this type of hearing might include a written narrative of the presentation, a map depicting property locations, photographs of any properties referenced at hearing, a copy of value calculations, a written value opinion such as a realtor’s comparative market analysis, a cost to cure estimate, and an appraisal.

Generally speaking, comparable sales are those which occurred prior to January 1st of the applicable tax year. For example, if appealing a 2018 assessed valuation, comparable sales should be restricted to those which occurred before January 1, 2018. When providing information regarding comparable sales, it is helpful to include date of sale, full sale price, any known sale concessions or atypical conditions of sale, location, descriptions of land and improvements, and relevant similarities or differences between the sale property and the subject property under appeal.

Property tax exemption appeal. Exhibits for this type of hearing vary depending on the specific exemption claimed, but might include photographs, description of property characteristics, chronology with specific examples of property use, copies of leases, documentation regarding ownership and use, certificate of organization, articles of incorporation, income statements, tax records, and other documentary evidence demonstrating exempt status.

Hearing Procedure

The following pages provide an outline of a typical BTA hearing; however, the presiding officer has the authority to alter hearing procedures as deemed necessary or appropriate in a particular case.

1. Opening the record – At the start of the hearing, the presiding officer will introduce the appeal and explain the hearing procedures to the parties.
2. Appellant’s presentation – The Appellant (party bringing the appeal) will have an opportunity to present their case. Typically, the presentation is made without interruption.
3. Respondent’s cross-examination – At the conclusion of the Appellant’s presentation, the Respondent (opposing party) will be allowed to ask questions of the Appellant and/or the Appellant’s witnesses.
4. Respondent’s presentation – Once questioning ends, the Respondent will have an opportunity to present their case. Again, this will typically be done without interruption.
5. Appellant’s cross-examination – After the Respondent’s presentation has concluded, the Appellant will be allowed to ask questions of the Respondent and/or the Respondent’s witnesses.
6. Appellant’s rebuttal – Following the Appellant’s cross-examination, the Appellant will be able to present rebuttal arguments or statements.
7. Respondent’s rebuttal and closing statement – The Respondent will have an opportunity to present rebuttal arguments and statements, and to offer a closing statement.
8. Appellant’s closing statement – As the party with the burden of proof, the Appellant is afforded the last opportunity to present at the hearing.
9. Closing the record – After the Appellant has concluded closing statements, the presiding officer typically closes the record. The matter is then submitted for review and decision-making. Once the record is closed, no additional evidence or information is permitted by either party, unless ordered otherwise by the BTA.

Witnesses

An Individual not fitting the above list of authorized representatives may participate at the hearing as a fact witness. A witness may assist in the presentation of a party’s case at the hearing, but is not allowed to cross-examine the opposing party. Common examples of witnesses include real estate brokers, realtors, appraisers, neighbors, friends, family members, or any other person with relevant knowledge of, or information concerning, the appeal.

DISCLAIMER: The following questions and answers are provided for general information only and may not be completely accurate in every circumstance. Further, the information in this section is not to be construed as legal advice, and is not intended to be legally binding on the BTA.

Q: What does the Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) do?

A: The BTA provides taxpayers with an opportunity to appeal decisions of county boards of equalization and most decisions of the Idaho State Tax Commission to an independent and neutral decision-making body. Taxpayers may present evidence and argument at a hearing before the BTA.

Q: When and how can I file an appeal with the BTA?

A: An appeal can be filed after a decision is issued by the County Board of Equalization regarding a property assessment or exemption claim. Certain requirements must be satisfied and limited time periods apply. More information regarding filing requirements can be found in SECTION 2 of this booklet. Appeal forms are available at the county clerk/auditor’s office, at the BTA’s website (bta.idaho.gov), or by request to the BTA’s Boise office.

Q: What happens after I file my appeal?

A: The BTA will send an acknowledgment letter to notify all parties the appeal has been received. The acknowledgment letter will include the docket number assigned to the appeal and may request further information. At a later time, the parties will be notified by mail of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

Q: What kind of information should I present at the hearing?

A: Generally, each party will be allowed to present information they feel is relevant to the appeal. This could include photographs, maps, appraisals, copies of relevant communications, or other documents which might be helpful or informative. Parties should provide as much information as possible regarding any comparable sales discussed or presented at hearing, such as sale price, date of sale, and property characteristics. Personal testimony and that of witnesses may also be offered as evidence. See SECTION 4 of this booklet for more information regarding exhibits for hearing.

Q: What happens at the hearing?

A: The hearing is the parties’ opportunity to present their respective cases. Each party will have a full opportunity to be heard and will be allowed to ask questions of the opposing party. The goal of the hearing is to create the record, or body of evidence, the BTA will rely on in making its decision. The presiding officer is responsible for controlling all aspects of the hearing to ensure the parties receive a fair hearing. The hearing is digitally recorded to provide an accurate audio record.

Q: May I pursue a settlement after my appeal has been filed?

A: Yes, a settlement can be pursued any time prior to the BTA issuing a final decision and order. To become effective, a settlement agreement must be submitted to, and approved by, the BTA. A settlement agreement must be signed by both parties, or their qualified representatives, and needs to include the relevant terms of the agreement. A settlement form is available at the BTA’s website, or the parties may draft their own.

Q: Do I need to re-submit exhibits or information I provided during my hearing before the County Board of Equalization?

A: Yes, any information the parties would like the BTA to consider should be provided at the BTA hearing, regardless if the same information was a part of a prior proceeding before the County Board of Equalization. Hearings before the BTA are de novo, which in simple terms means everything starts “fresh.” Likewise, any information included in the materials submitted when filing the appeal should be re-introduced at the BTA hearing.

Q: How long will it take to receive my decision?

A: The time it takes to receive a decision from the BTA can vary from a few weeks to a couple of months. In most instances, the BTA is required by law to issue property tax assessment decisions by May 1st.

Q: Can I get information from the opposing party before the hearing?

A: Yes. The formal process is called discovery. There are specific time limits and other standards for filing a discovery request, which can be found in the BTA’s administrative rules. Formal discovery must be requested in writing and granted by the BTA. Informal communication between the parties is permitted at any time, however, the opposing party is not always required to participate or provide information during this informal process.

Q: Who will be at the hearing? Is it public?

A: Each party is present, as is the presiding officer from the BTA. Typically, there are 3 to 5 total people at the hearing. Almost all hearings are open to the public.

Q: Where will the hearing be held?

A: Appeals from the County Board of Equalization are normally heard in the county from which the assessment was issued, often at the courthouse. Hearings for Ada County appeals are normally held at the BTA’s office in Boise.

Q: If I receive a reduction in value from the County Board of Equalization, and appeal to the BTA for a further reduction, do I risk losing the reduction already received?

A: Yes, the BTA is not bound by the decision of the County Board of Equalization. The BTA has jurisdiction over the entire assessment, even if only one part is being challenged. Depending on the facts of the particular case, the BTA may raise, lower, or leave unchanged the values previously assigned to the land or improvements.

Q: Can the county assessor appeal a decision of the County Board of Equalization?

A: Yes, pursuant to Idaho Code §63-511, the county assessor is permitted to appeal a decision of the County Board of Equalization. The same filing requirements apply, including appeal deadlines, contents of the notice of appeal, and filing the appeal with the county clerk/auditor.

Q: Where can I get more information to assist with my appeal?

A: Depending on the type of appeal, there are multiple sources for obtaining helpful information. Information regarding comparable sales might be obtainable from local realtors, brokers, appraisers, or other real estate professionals. Sources of information concerning tax issues might include the Idaho State Tax Commission, an attorney, and the tax statutes provided in Title 63 of the Idaho Code. Parties may also contact the BTA.

Q: Can I appeal my BTA decision?

A: Yes, a final decision of the BTA may be appealed to district court. Certain filing requirements and time limits apply, as provided in Idaho Code §63-3812 and the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 84).

It is hoped the material on this web page was helpful to the reader in explaining and navigating the appeal process of the BTA. For matters not included in this booklet or any other questions regarding the BTA, please feel free to contact us at 208-334-3354.

The Idaho Board of Tax Appeals is committed to providing convenient, equitable, and independent determinations of disputed tax matters. We are always looking for ways to improve the services and the overall experience for those appearing before the BTA. In this regard, the BTA welcomes feedback and suggestions for improvement from participants.

If you would like to comment on an aspect of the BTA’s service, or your particular experience with the BTA, written comments can be mailed to the BTA at 1673 W. Shoreline Drive, Suite 120, Boise, ID 83702.