Appeals

If the Notice of Valuation reflects a value you disagree with or if you have questions about valuation, contact your County Assessor.  If you do not receive a Notice you must contact our office or you may lose your rights to further appeal.  Do not wait until you receive your tax bill next January.

Real Property
Property owners may appeal their values from May 1 to June 8.  The Assessor's Office reviews the appeal and makes a determination.  A determination can either be to adjust the value, or deny the protest and retain the current assigned value.  The Assessor will notify you of the decision with a Notice of Determination to be mailed on June 30.

business Personal Property
Property owners may appeal their values from June 15 to June 30. The Assessor's Office reviews the appeal and makes a determination.  A determination can either be to adjust the value, or deny the protest and retain the current assigned value.  The Assessor will notify you of the decision with a Notice of Determination mailed on July 10.

Resources
Understanding Property Taxes in Colorado

Interpreting Your Notice of Value

Vacant Land Sales, Improved Sales & Commercial Sales

Property Valuation Review, Protest & Appeal Handbook

Abatement

A property owner or the owner's agent may file an abatement petition with the County to officially request an abatement of taxes due or refund of taxes paid.  The term abatement is frequently used to refer to both abatement and refund because the abatement petition is used under both circumstances.

This appeal process is similar to a protest filed during May, but can take many months to complete.

Petitions must be filed within two years of the date taxes were due.

Abatement petitions may be filed within two years of the date taxes were due, 39-10-114(1)(a)(I)(A) C.R.S. provided that

  • The property valuation had not been previously protested
  • The person filing for abatement was the owner of record for that year(s)

A tax payer has until the first working day of the January following the two year deadline to file the petition.

Please call (970)382-6221 to request a petition packet. You can also complete the "Real Property Abatement Questionnaire"  for 2022 or 2023. Personal Property forms can be found here.  Mail them to the Assessor's Office at 679 Turner Drive, Suite A, Durango, CO 81303.

Once the signed petition, questionnaire and/or any other supporting documentation are received by the Assessor's Office, it will be reviewed and a recommendation will be made.  While it is the taxpayer's right to file an abatement petition, approval is not automatic.

Unless there is a recommendation for adjustment and owner acceptance, the owner may request a hearing for further review with the Board of County Commissioners.  A representative from the Assessor's Office will also attend the hearing.

If you are not satisfied with the Board of County Commissioner's decision you may appeal to the Colorado Board of Assessment Appeals.

If the petition is granted and taxes have been paid, a refund is issued by the County Treasurer.  If taxes have not been paid, a corrected tax notice is sent out by the Treasurer.  If the tax dollar amount to be abated is $10,000 or more, the abatement must be approved by the Colorado Property Tax Administrator.

You may also contact the Assessor's Office for more information or questions concerning the abatement procedure at (970)382-6221.