Except as otherwise provided by law, the assessing official shall, from information entered on the tax return list and from all other information known to him or her, or which he or she may procure, proceed to ascertain what, in his or her best judgment, is a fair and reasonable market value of each item of property returned by or listed to any taxpayer; provided, that the assessed value of any real estate or improvements as fixed for taxation for the year next preceding the then current tax year shall be prima facie the basis of the value of the property for assessment for the current tax year, and the property shall not be assessed for taxation at a less valuation unless, upon evidence submitted to the county board of equalization, as provided for herein, it is found that the assessed valuation of the property reviewed should be reduced. The assessing official shall in separate columns enter on the list the amount and value and the deduction for exemption to which the taxpayer is entitled. The assessing official shall also add to the list any item of property subject to taxation owned by the taxpayer, or in which he or she has any interest whatever and which he or she had failed or omitted to place on the list; and the taxpayer shall be given notice by the assessing official, by mail or in person, of the items of property added to his or her assessment list or items claimed as exempt which are disallowed by the assessing official after the list has been filed and before the assessing official has completed his or her assessment, and the assessing official shall, upon demand, furnish the taxpayer with a certified copy of his or her assessment list so amended. In the event the value of real or personal property of any taxpayer is increased by the county board of equalization, herein created, over the assessed value thereof for the next preceding year, the taxpayer shall be furnished by mail or in person, by the secretary of the county board of equalization, with a statement showing separately the value of his or her personal property and his or her real property, and improvements thereon. The statement shall be signed by the chair of the county board of equalization and the taxpayer may file in writing, with the secretary of the county board of equalization, within 30 calendar days of the date of the statement, objections to any assessed valuation fixed as herein provided. Failure to give or receive the notices required in this section shall not invalidate the assessment. The taxpayer shall have the right any time before the taxes become delinquent to appear before the county board of equalization and have the assessment of his or her property reopened, if satisfactory proof is made that the taxpayer or his or her agent did not receive notice of the increase. The expense of postage incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section shall be paid in equal proportions by the county and state, upon a certified statement thereof by the secretary of the county board of equalization, filed with the court of county commissioners, or the board or court of like jurisdiction and with the Department of Finance.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 40 - Revenue and Taxation.
Chapter 7 - Assessment of Taxes Generally.
Article 1 - General Provisions.
Section 40-7-1 - Authority of Tax Assessor; Duties of Taxpayer.
Section 40-7-2 - Commencement and Completion of Assessment; Supplemental Assessment.
Section 40-7-2.1 - Timing of Property Assessments, etc., Homestead Exemption.
Section 40-7-5 - Oath to Be Administered Before Return Made.
Section 40-7-7 - When Taxpayer May Mail List or Send by Another Person.
Section 40-7-8 - Oath to Be Used on Bottom of Assessment Sheet.
Section 40-7-9 - Assessor Authorized to Correct Error in Computing Taxes Due.
Section 40-7-10 - Allowance of Statutory Exemptions; Property No Longer Exempt.
Section 40-7-11 - Failure to Report Improvements.
Section 40-7-12 - Fraudulent Failure to Report Change in Condition of Property, Etc.
Section 40-7-14 - Taxpayer to Give Estimated Values; Preceding Year's Valuation Entered by Assessor.
Section 40-7-15 - Property to Be Appraised at Fair Market Value.
Section 40-7-16 - How Real Estate May Be Described.
Section 40-7-17 - By Whom Property Should Be Listed.
Section 40-7-19 - Demand Against Persons Failing to Make Returns.
Section 40-7-20 - Separate Returns to Be Filed in Individual and Fiduciary Capacity.
Section 40-7-22 - Procedure by Assessor Upon Failure to Procure List.
Section 40-7-23 - Assessment of Escaped Taxes; Avoidance of Penalty; Notice and Collection.
Section 40-7-24 - Failure to Make Return of Gross or Net Receipts or Commissions From Business.
Section 40-7-25 - Estimation of Fair Market Value; Assessment List; Notice; Objections.
Section 40-7-28 - Correction of Improvement Assessment When Improvements Nonexistent.
Section 40-7-29 - By Whom and When Penalties Remitted.
Section 40-7-30 - Assessor Notified of Appointment of Fiduciaries.
Section 40-7-31 - Assessment to "Owners unknown."
Section 40-7-32 - Fees of Assessor for Returns on Escaped Property.
Section 40-7-33 - Book of Assessments - Required; Form; Use of Assessment Lists in Lieu of Book.
Section 40-7-34 - Book of Assessments - to Be Certified by Department.
Section 40-7-35 - Same Abstracts of Property Contained in Book.
Section 40-7-36 - Book Showing Amount of Taxes Delivered to Collector.
Section 40-7-37 - Plat Books - Blocks and Lots Platted and Recorded.
Section 40-7-38 - Plat Books - All Real Estate.
Section 40-7-39 - Plat Books - Annual Revision.
Section 40-7-40 - Plat Books - Failure to Comply With Sections 40-7-37 Through 40-7-39.
Section 40-7-41 - Plat Books - Where Kept.
Section 40-7-42 - Levy of Taxes From Book of Assessments.
Section 40-7-44 - Assessment Against Auctioneers.
Section 40-7-45 - Appeals - Right; Time.
Section 40-7-46 - Appeals - Notice.
Section 40-7-47 - Appeals - Trial.
Section 40-7-48 - Appeals - Judgment of Revaluation.
Section 40-7-49 - Rules and Regulations.
Section 40-7-50 - Voluntary Check-Off Designation for Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, Inc.