Property Tax Alert: District of Columbia

June 2005

For District of Columbia property tax purposes, legislation is enacted on an emergency basis to reform the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals.

The measure reduces the term of the chairperson to two years from three years, reduces the term of each board member appointed after March 31, 2006, to three years from five years, and removes the limits regarding how long an individual may serve on the board. Under the law as amended, board members are allowed to serve exclusively together on the same panel for more than one tax year.

By February 1 of each year, all pending real property assessment appeals the board must finalize cases. The board members have 30 days to finalize a residential case and 80 days to finalize a commercial case upon the completion of a hearing. If the board fails to comply, the petitioner is still entitled to a hearing or to have a decision rendered on the case. The petitioner's right to an appeal before the board is not affected.

Please contact Rash & Associates for more information.