Cedar Rapids, Linn County mailing property tax assessment notices

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids and the Linn County assessor offices will be mailing property assessments to home and business owners whose property values have changed since last year.

The city assessor plans to mail assessment notices Wednesday to property taxpayers in Cedar Rapids. Homeowners whose property has not changed in value will not receive a mailing.

The 2023 assessment represents the “gross” assessment and includes qualifying exemptions and abatements as tabulated by the assessor’s office.

It does not reflect the state-designated rollback percentage or the homestead, military and business property tax credits or exemptions that the Linn County Auditor’s Office calculates and applies to figure your property tax bill. The rollback, tax credits and exemptions all reduce the taxable value of a property and, therefore, the property tax bill.

Under Iowa law, assessors must value property as residential, residential 3+ units, commercial or industrial to reflect a property’s market value.

Agricultural land and buildings are valued separately, using a productivity method as required by the state.

Overall, the assessed values of Cedar Rapids properties have risen. The median percentage increase by classification is:

The 2023 assessment is the basis for property taxes payable in September 2024 and March 2025.

To review assessment information, visit the city assessor’s website at cedarrapids.iowaassessors.com. The website will be updated with the 2023 assessment information Wednesday.

Other properties

All other property in Linn County — outside of Cedar Rapids — is assessed by the Linn County Assessor’s Office.

According to Linn County, almost all residential properties will see increases in market value in the 2023 assessment.

This rise is part of nationwide trend representing the market change from January 2021 through December 2022.

The 2023 assessed values in Linn County are based on sales of residential property within the county in 2022.

How to appeal

Property owners who believe a new assessment does not reflect their property’s market value can contact the City Assessor’s Office to ask for an informal review. To do that, call (319) 286-5888 or email crassessor@cedar-rapids.org.

The office will conduct an informal appeal between April 3 and April 25.

Property owners are encouraged to contact the office as soon as possible to ensure their request is processed in a timely fashion.

Additionally, property owners may file a formal property assessment appeal with the Cedar Rapids Board of Review from April 2 through April 30.

The formal appeal petition may be downloaded from the city assessor’s website at cedarrapids.iowaassessors.com/forms.php. The forms also can be obtained by calling (319) 286-5888; emailing crassessor@cedar-rapids.org; or visiting the City Assessor’s Office in the City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW, between 7:30 am. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Appeals of property assessments must be made in writing and include identification of the property (address, parcel number, legal description), reason for the appeal and a signature with contact information.

Petitioners should state if they are requesting an oral hearing before the Board of Review. That board’s rules and procedures can be found on the assessor’s website.

All appeals must be filed at the City Assessor’s Office between April 2 and April 30. Since April 30 falls on a Sunday this year, appeals filed or postmarked May 1 will be accepted.

Appeals also can be emailed to crassessor@cedar-rapids.org.

Property taxpayers outside Cedar Rapids can request a review of their assessment as soon as they receive their notice, but, by law, must have their request made by May 1 this year.

To contact the Linn County Assesor’s Office, call (319) 892-5220; email Assessor.Account@linncountyiowa.gov; or go to the assessor’s office in the Jean Oxley Linn County Service Center, 935 Second St. SW in Cedar Rapids.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com