Formal Tax Complaint Workshops for Cuyahoga County 2024 Sexennial Reappraisal: March 31st is the Deadline to File Complaint

Beginning Wednesday, February 5th at 6 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, North Olmsted, the Cuyahoga County Board of Revisions will hold four Informational Meetings for citizens to learn about the formal tax complaint process, including how to file a property valuation complaint and how to prepare for a hearing.

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If you don’t agree with your Cuyahoga County property tax assessment, you can file a complaint with the Cuyahoga County Board of Revision between January 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025, any of the following ways:

Online: You can file a complaint online using a valid email address and phone number.

By mail: You can print a hard copy of the complaint form opens in a new windowDTE Form 1, fill it out, and have it notarized.
Mail the form to:

Cuyahoga County Board of Revision
2079 East 9th Street, 2nd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115

In-person: You can file a complaint in person at the Board of Revision office.
The office is located at:
Board of Revision Office
2079 East 9th Street, 2nd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115.

(The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, except on holidays.)

By email: You can email a complaint form to borinfo@cuyahogacounty.gov

By fax: You can fax a complaint form to (216) 443-8282

You can call the Board of Revision at (216) 443-7195 for more information. March 31 is a hard deadline. After the complaint is received, the board will set a date for a formal hearing.

Owners can file evidence supporting their claim up to seven days before that hearing. What kind of evidence do you need?

For a formal complaint through the Board of Revision, you can submit the following as evidence:

  • An arms-length sale with a recorded deed, the most common type of property sale, where two unrelated parties deal through their agents
    • It should be no more than 24 months old
    • Foreclosures don’t count
  • If you haven’t yet closed on the property, any document showing the agreed-upon sale amount will do, such as a purchase contract, closing statement or conveyance fee statement.
  • A recent appraisal done for tax valuation
    • It must be authenticated by the appraiser during your hearing.
  • Photos of the interior or exterior of the property showing its condition compared to other similar properties
    • They should be dated, so repairs done after Jan. 1 aren’t included in the new value.
  • If the complaint cites repairs, include certified estimates from a contractor.
    • It should show “hard” costs like material and labor as well as “soft” costs like permits, financing or architectural drawings.

Most often, property owners simply get their own appraisal at cost.

The next steps
For formal complaints, the Board of Revision will schedule a hearing.
The timing of those hearings varies from year to year, depending on how many complaints are received and how quickly the board is working through them,
The hearings can be held in-person, by Zoom or by phone. Owners don’t have to be present for them, but it’s “strongly encouraged,” so they can answer questions about their property or filings,
They’re similar to court proceedings and, like in a court setting, it may be a good idea to seek an attorney who can argue on your behalf.