The Appraiser's Office is responsible to discover, list and value all taxable property located in the county.

The Appraiser's Office field staff have wrapped up the annual maintenance data collection process for tax year 2023.  Value change notices for tax year 2023 will be mailed to all real property owners on March 1. Property owners will have 30 days from the mail date to appeal their values. A significant number of values will be increasing again for 2023 due to a strong real estate market throughout 2022.

We have begun the review of characteristic data for 2024 and will be working in various parts of the county to review properties that have not been inspected in the last 6 years or have recently sold. County staff will always be in a marked vehicle and have county identification badges. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office and we will assist you. Field appraisers will always try to make contact by knocking on doors. If contact can not be made, a door hanger will be left in the door.

PERSONAL PROPERTY RENDITIONS ARE  DUE IN THE APPRAISER'S OFFICE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 15. Renditions submitted after March 15 will accrue late filing penalties of 5% per month up to 50% for non filers. File your 2023 personal property rendition today to avoid paying additional fees!

Real estate value notices will be  mailed on March 1, 2023. Most property owners will see value increases due to the increase in market activity and sale prices. Increases in property value do not necessarily mean that your property taxes will increase. 2023 taxes based on these values will not be determined until later in the year when mill levies are set by the various taxing entities during the budgeting process. With the exception of agricultural land valued at use value, Kansas is a market value state which requires the Appraiser’s Office to value your property within 10% of sale prices. Your 2023 value is our best estimate of what the likely sale price for your property would be if your property were to sell.

If you have questions about your property values, please call the office at the number listed on your notice or email appraiser018@cowleycountyks.gov. There are also instructions on how to appeal the value on the back of your notice.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about your property, please contact the office and we will be happy to assist you. 

Introduction

The assessment process is the basis for developing property values and is the tool for equalizing the distribution of the tax burden. Remember that the county appraiser's office does not determine taxes. The amount of taxes you pay depends on the budgets set by our governing bodies such as the state, county, hospitals, and schools to pay for roads, fire, and police protection, recreational facilities, and other local services. You can play an effective role in this process if you know your rights, understand the remedies available to you, and fulfill your responsibilities as a property owner and taxpayer.

UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY TAXES

The assessment process involves setting standards for fair and equitable values, discovering and listing information about properties, and determining property values. Values are then analyzed to ensure they meet the standards of fair assessment, and then certifying the total valuation of the county to the county clerk.

The Taxpayer

As a property owner and taxpayer, you have specific rights and responsibilities in the assessment process:

• You have the right to examine the appraiser's property records and verify that the property you own is listed and described correctly on the tax records.

• If you disagree with your property value, you may file an appeal with the appraiser.

• You have the responsibility to provide accurate information to the appraiser about property you own. 

Forms and Documents

Payment under protest form click here

MARKET STUDY ANALYSIS CLICK HERE

For more documentation and forms click here.

Request a Printed Map

For a printed map of the area of your choosing, fill our a request form with the GIS department.