Below is a graphic representation of the property assessment appeal process for Property Owners who believe their properties are incorrectly or unfairly assessed for tax purposes.

CLICK ON THUMBNAIL TO BE DIRECTED TO FULL SIZE GRAPHICS.

Note: The first step depicted above, "Discuss the Value with the Assessor" is not mandatory. However, most conflicts and problems can be resolved at this level and is a highly encouraged starting point.

Back to Top

 

The Metro Board of Equalization is the first level of administrative appeal for complaints regarding the assessment, classification, and valuation of property for tax purposes. It consists of five (5) property owners selected from different parts of the county to serve two year terms. Because of Nashville's population, Tennessee law requires two (2) members of Metro's board to be Nashville residents appointed by the city council. The board's duties include examining and equalizing county property assessments, ensuring that all taxable properties are included on the assessment rolls, eliminating exempt properties from taxation, hearing complaints from property owners/taxpayers, decreasing values of over-assessed property, increasing values of under-assessed property, and correcting clerical mistakes.

The Metro Board of Equalization meets beginning the 1st day of June each year and remains in session until that year’s equalization is complete. Approximately ten days prior to the board convening, the Assessor of Property will publish a public notice in the local newspaper detailing the dates, time, and place the board will be meeting to hear appeals. The procedure for property owners to make an appointment will also be stated in the notice.

A property owner may appear in person or have a family member, attorney or anyone with written authorization to appear on the owner's behalf.  Prior to the appeal hearing, the property owner will be asked to complete an appeal form to be submitted to the Board.  The appeal form provides the property owner the opportunity to state a proposed classification, value and assessed value for the subject property.  It also contains space in which to include information supporting his/her position.  In addition, the property owner is encouraged to bring to the hearing any pertinent information to support his/her appeal, including applicable appraisals, receipts, comparable sales information, income and expense data, cost information, and/or photographs. The materials that are submitted at the hearing should support the property owner/s theory of the property’s value and/or classification.  The property owner also has the the right to bring witnesses who can provide relevant information about the subject property. However, any evidence presented should refrain from discussing the property taxes or the property owner's ability to pay them, as the Board is exclusively concerned with fair and equitable property classification, valuation, and assessment.

After hearing all of the evidence, the board will make a decision as soon as possible and results will be mailed to the property owner. This normally occurs prior to the end of June. If the property owner is still not satisfied with the decision of the Metro board, the next step is to carry the appeal to the State Board of Equalization. The decision letter from the Metro board will contain directions on how to file an appeal with the State Board of Equalization. By law that appeal must be made prior to 1 August or 45 days after the Metro Board’s letter is mailed, whichever is later.

Back to Top
 

67-5-903. Schedules - Property used for business, professions, manufacturing

1. All partnerships, corporations, other business associations not issuing stock and individuals operating for profit as a business or profession, including manufacturers, except those whose property is entirely assessable by the comptroller of the treasury, shall be furnished by the assessor not later than February 1 of each year, a schedule requiring the taxpayer to list in detail all tangible personal property owned by the taxpayer and used or held for use in such business or profession including, but not limited to, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment, all raw materials, supplies, but excluding all finished goods in the hands of the manufacturer and the inventories of merchandise held for sale or exchange, such schedule to be approved by the director of property assessments.
2. It is the duty of the taxpayer to list fully such tangible personal property used, or held for use, in the taxpayer's business or profession on such schedule, including such other information relating thereto as may be required by the assessor, place its correct value thereon, sign same, and return it to the assessor prior to March 1 of each year. In lieu of detailing acquisition cost on the reporting schedule, the taxpayer may certify that the depreciated value of tangible personal property otherwise reportable on the form is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less. The assessor shall accept the certification, subject to audit, and fix the value of tangible personal property assessable to the taxpayer pursuant to the schedule, at one thousand dollars ($1,000). This value shall be subject to equalization pursuant to § 67-5-1509. The certification stated on the schedule shall warn the taxpayer that it is made subject to penalties for perjury and subject to statutory penalty and costs if proven false.
3. A taxpayer who fails, refuses or neglects to complete, sign and file such schedule with the assessor of property, as provided in subsection (b), commits a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), and the assessor shall assess the tangible personal property of the taxpayer which is used, or held for use, in the taxpayer's business or profession, and shall give the taxpayer notice of such assessment by United States mail, addressed to the last known address of the taxpayer, or the taxpayer's agent, at least five (5) calendar days before the local board of equalization commences its annual session.
4. The remedy of a taxpayer against whom a forced assessment is made as provided in this section shall be the same as provided in § 67-5-1407, but such remedy shall be conditioned upon the taxpayer filing with the board of equalization a complete listing or schedule of all the tangible personal property owned or used by the taxpayer in the operation of the taxpayer's business on the same form as required to be filed with the assessor.
5. The taxpayer may amend a personal property schedule previously filed with the assessor at any time until September 1 following the tax year. If the assessor agrees with the amended schedule, the assessor shall thereupon revise the assessment and certify the revised assessment to the trustee. If the assessor believes the assessment should be otherwise than claimed in the amended schedule, the assessor shall adjust the assessment and give written notice to the taxpayer of the adjusted assessment. The taxpayer may appeal the assessor's adjustment of or refusal to accept an amended assessment schedule to the local and state boards of equalization in the manner otherwise provided by law. Additional taxes due as the result of an amended schedule shall not be deemed delinquent until sixty (60) days after the date notice of the amended assessment was sent to the taxpayer. Amendment of a personal property schedule shall not be permitted once suit has been filed to collect delinquent taxes related to the original assessment.
6. The schedule approved by the director of property assessments and supplied to taxpayers shall contain schedules reflecting the following rates of allowable depreciated cost for the listed categories of property, as well as spaces for general data on the particular taxpayer:
   GROUP 1A - Vehicles (five-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.80
   2			.60
   3			.40
   4			.20
   Prior			.20
   Total

   GROUP 1B (eight-year life)

   GROUP 1 - Furniture, Fixtures, General Equipment, and All Other Property Not Listed in Another Group

   Year	Cost on file	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.88
   2			.75
   3			.63
   4			.50
   5			.38
   6			.25
   7			.20
   Prior

   GROUP 2 - Computers, Copiers, Peripherals, and Tools (three-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.67
   2			.33
   Prior			.20
   Total

   GROUP 3 - Molds, Dies, and Jigs (four-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.75
   2			.50
   3			.25
   Prior			.20
   Total

   GROUP 4 - Aircraft, Boats and Towers (not classified as real property) (13-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.92
   2			.85
   3			.77
   4			.69
   5			.62
   6			.54
   7			.46
   8			.38
   9			.31
   10			.23
   11			.20
   Prior			.20
   Total	nbsp;

   GROUP 5 - Manufacturing Machinery (eight-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.88
   2			.75
   3			.63
   4			.50
   5			.38
   6			.25
   7			.20
   Prior			.20
   Total

   GROUP 6 - Billboards, Tanks, and Pipelines (unless classified as real property) (16-year life)

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   1			.94
   2			.88
   3			.81
   4			.75
   5			.69
   6			.63
   7			.56
   8			.50
   9			.44
   10			.38
   11			.31
   12			.25
   13			.20
   Prior			.20
   Total

   GROUP 7 - Scrap Property

   Year	Cost on File	Revised Cost	Depr.
   ----------	----------	----------	----------
   All			.02

   GROUP 8 - Raw Materials and Supplies

   Cost on File	Revised Cost
   Original Cost

7. (1) Tangible personal property which the taxpayer treats as construction-in-process (hereinafter "CIP") for federal income tax purposes as of the assessment date may be reported in the taxpayer's schedule filed with the assessor at fifteen percent (15%) of its cost as reported for federal income tax purposes. Qualified pollution control property shall be valued as provided in § 67-5-604, notwithstanding its state of completion.
   (2) No back assessments of CIP, as the term is used in subdivision (g)(1), shall occur prior to January 1, 1994. If back assessments have occurred involving CIP, those assessments shall be voided and all taxes paid shall be refunded to those taxpayers who have an action or claim pending before an assessing authority or court on the CIP issue.

67-5-904. Schedules - Leased Property.

1. (1) For the purpose of assessing leased property, it is the further duty of the taxpayer to list fully on a schedule provided by the assessor all tangible personal property which is leased by the taxpayer for the conduct of the taxpayer's business.
2. (2) Leased property shall include equipment, machinery and all tangible personal property used in the conduct of, or as a part of, the taxpayer's business including, but not limited to, the following:
   1. Equipment that is leased only, not sold;
   2. Equipment that is leased at nominal rent or loaned under certain circumstances;
   3. Equipment that is leased and not permitted to be sold;
   4. Leased coin-operated machines and devices;
   5. Equipment that is placed on location;
   6. Vehicles, automobiles, trucks;
   7. Furniture; and
   8. Electronic equipment.
3. The lessor, or owner of leased tangible personal property, shall provide such information as the assessor may request regarding the location, valuation or use of such property.

Back to Top