Assessor's Office
Assessor: Danny Hagen
Return to a gradually increasing real estate marketAfter a record-breaking real estate market from May 2021 through April of 2022, rapidly increasing interest rates have cooled the market drastically here in Skagit County. Yet, with limited inventory, the increasing interest rates still weren’t enough to make most property values retreat. County wide, we are seeing increases averaging around 5% for residential properties. Some waterfront neighborhoods are still seeing double digit percent increases, while some neighborhoods in East County saw decreases in value. Senior exemption levels increasing for 2024The State Legislature has voted to increase the qualifying senior and disabled veteran exemption level from 65% to 70% of the county’s median household income as calculated by the Office of Financial Management. In Skagit County, the new levels will change for the 2024 property tax year. The new thresholds will be $48,000 for Level 3, $41,000 for Level 2, and $34,000 for Level 1. Presentation offeringAssessor Danny Hagen is offering to come and present on property taxes and how they are administered in the State of Washington. If you are a part of a group or know of a group that has questions regarding the assessment process, please reach out to our office. Danny is quite flexible and accommodating for any group wanting to have a better understanding of local taxes. From the Assessor
Hello! NEWS
Application fees increasing for Forestland and Current Use tax benefit programs La Conner and Conway property inspections are in progress
All properties in the La Conner and Conway School Districts are being revalued for the 2023 assessment year. Appraisers from the Assessor’s Office will inspect all commercial, farm and residential properties in the two districts. Except for properties issued building permits in the six years since, the last inspections for this area occurred in 2017.
Reappraisals occurred in the Mount Vernon School District with physical inspections while the remainder of the county was updated statistically through the annual ratio study. Significant value increases occurred in many property categories and areas as a result of the appreciating real estate market.
Assessors are required to maintain assessments reflecting market value. The assessment ratio is the measure of assessment level to market and at 92.3 percent for 2021, is consistent with prior years. That measure means on average, assessed value is 92.3% of selling price on properties that sold during the May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021 period. The effective date of value for assessment purposes in January 1, 2021. Property with new construction has an effective date of July 31, 2021. Property owners with questions concerning the new value are encouraged to call the Assessor’s Office. If you did not receive a notice, the assessed value did not change from the prior year. In either case you may appeal the 2021 value by submitting a real or personal property petition to the Board of Equalization by November 6. Close The 2019 state legislature passed ESSB 5160, which changed the income thresholds specific to each county based on percentage of the median household income of the county. The residency requirement has also changed to a minimum of nine months out of the year. As a result, Skagit County’s new income limits are as shown below:
These new thresholds apply to 2019 income for tax relief in 2020. The new law provides adjustment to the income limits every five years. The Senior Citizen and Disabled property tax deferral program also has a new qualifying threshold of $48,912 (75% of median household income). For information on these tax relief programs, please see links to DOR publications on this site or call the Assessor’s Office at (360) 416-1780. Close Information On Property Tax Procedures: 2022About the Assessor's Office The assessor acts as an agent for the Washington State Department of Revenue and is responsible for administering the property tax system for the county. This process involves establishing real and personal property values for distributing taxes for each tax district, as well as reviewing each tax district’s budget request to assure all legal requirements and limitations are met. The assessor also administers and monitors compliance for recipients of tax benefit programs, such as the Senior Citizen and Disabled Exemption program and the various Current Use programs for properties used for agriculture, timber and open space.
The property tax system is designed to treat all taxpayers equally across the State of Washington. My office works hard to treat everyone fairly and promptly. In these pages you will find a group of commonly asked questions about revaluations, the Board of Equalization , values, levies, and an assortment of useful information.
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