Understanding how Lehigh county assessment works is important for property owners. This is because your property tax assessment helps determine just how big your property tax bill will be.

If you’re a property owner in Lehigh or just someone curious about how the assessment works, where to get assessment records, or even how to appeal an assessment, then you’re at the right place.

We have all the information you need.

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What is Lehigh County Assessment?

The Lehigh County Assessment office determines the value of all taxable property in Lehigh County, PA. and is is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

But what is a taxable property? Taxable properties in real estate are land and commercial properties. However, You can call them real property or real estate.

One more example of taxable property is assets that businesses own but you can also call them personal properties.

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How Does the Lehigh County Tax Assessment Work?

First, an assessor will perform a property assessment on your property. Thereafter, the County uses this assessment to determine the property taxes you own.

But how does Lehigh County determine how much property taxes you pay? First, they will assess how much your property is worth within a specific period.

They call this specific period ‘base year’. After that, your property tax will be a certain percentage of your property’s worth.

However, it is equally important to note that the “base year”, for Lehigh County is 2013. So this has been effective since the date of the last County-wide reassessment.

Back then, the County Commissioners selected the assessment percentage. They call this percentage “predetermined ratio” which is 100% of the Fair Market Value.

So, Lehigh County gets the basis for real estate tax from the assessed value.

Further, the Assessment Office is responsible for maintaining the assessment rolls throughout the year.

However, the office can add new assessments through new construction. They can also reduce assessments due to casualties like razed buildings, fire damage, etc.

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Lehigh County Tax Assessment Records PA

If you want the Lehigh County Assessment Records, First you can use the countyoffice.org website for your Lehigh county assessment records search.

The Lehigh County Property Assessment Records Search PA allows you to perform the following PA public property records search for free:

• Property appraisals
• Unclaimed property
• Ownership searches
• Lookups
• Tax records
• Titles
• Deeds, and liens

You can also perform Free Lehigh County Property Assessment Records PA Search for the following:

• Records for property owners
• Sales & transfer history
• Deeds & titles
• Property taxes
• Valuations
• Land
• Zoning records & more

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How to use the Lehigh County Property Assessment Record Search Links

There are 10 links you can use to assess Lehigh County Property Records. The following are where to get these links;

Lehigh County Assessment Department Property Records Search Link

This is where to Search Lehigh County Assessment Department property records by address, parcel ID, or document ID.

Click here to assess the page.

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Lehigh County Assessment Department Property Records (Pennsylvania) Search Link

You can also use this link to look for property records from the Lehigh County Assessment Department by address, parcel number, or document ID.

Here is the link to the website.

Lehigh County Assessor’s Website Search Link

This link gives you access to the Lehigh County Assessor’s website for contact information, office hours, tax payments and bills, parcel and GIS maps, assessments, and other property records.

Click here to follow the link.

Lehigh County Building Permits Search Link

This link gives you access to view Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, building permit information, including filing applications, making amendments, renewals, approval status, and inspections.

Check out the link here.

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Lehigh County Deed Search Link

This link also helps you find Lehigh county assessment records pa for real estate and property deeds, including options for accessing records, types of records, and fees.

Click here to follow the link.

Lehigh County Fiscal / Tax Claims Department Tax Records Search Link

This is where you can get the Lehigh County Fiscal / Tax Claims Department tax sale dates including searchable links and general information.

Check the link out here.

Lehigh County GIS Maps

To search and identify land and property data, you can use this link to access Lehigh County GIS maps, tax maps, and parcel viewers

Here is the search link.

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Lehigh County Property Tax Exemptions

This link further gives you access to Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, property tax exemption information.

This includes homestead exemptions, low-income assistance, senior and veteran exemptions, applications, and program details.

You can follow the link here.

Lehigh County Records

This is another link where you can search Lehigh County public records, including assessment, tax, judgment, inheritance tax, and naturalization records.

Check out the link here.

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Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Sales

This is the last link. It also lets you view Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office’s sales page, including case numbers, addresses, and opening bids.

Click here to follow the link.

How Does Lehigh County Tax Assessment Appeal Work?

If you are a property owner in Lehigh County, you can file an appeal if you are unsatisfied with the property assessment.

The use of legal, procedural, and factual norms is necessary for assessment appeals.

You can file this appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals. However, note that the Board of Assessment Appeals will only accept an “original” signed request received on or before August 1st of every year.

This means that the board will not accept Postmarks and faxed appeals as evidence of timely filing.

Further, according to Pennsylvania law, an attorney must file and handle the appeal on her behalf if the property owner is a corporation.

Otherwise, you don’t have to get a lawyer. Having said that, note that the same legal standards apply to all.

So whether you have an attorney or not, the same legal standard applies to everyone.

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How to Fill Lehigh County Assessment Appeal Form in Word

As we mentioned, you can appeal your property assessment if you’re unhappy with it. So let’s show you the sections to appeal the Lehigh County Board of Assessment decision as stated on the Lehigh County Assessment website.

Section 1: Time of Appeal

You can only file petitions for appeal within 30 days after the Notice of Formal Assessment mailing date. 

Section 2 – Completing the Appeals Packet

You must also have a complete and separate Lehigh county assessment parcel search to get a complete parcel.

You’ll find the following forms in the Lehigh County Tax Assessment Appeals Parcel Packet:

• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Civil Cover Sheet
• Petition and Verification (pages 1-4)
• Certificate of Service (page 5)

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Steps to Fill Assessment Appeal Form

According to the Lehigh Assessment Website, the following are steps to fill out the property assessment appeal form:

• First, complete all available fields and print one (1) copy
• Sign the Petition (page 3): Note: all of the property owners of record should sign this document
• Next, add One (1) true and correct copy of your Formal Tax Assessment Appeal form to the Petition and label it as “Exhibit A”
• After that, add One (1) true and correct copy of the Board Decision Notice to the same Petition and label it as “Exhibit B”
• Then, Sign and Date Verification (page 4)
• Finally, Make five (5) photocopies of the signed Petition and Verification (pages 1-4) and Exhibits A and B.

Note: Do not make any additional copies of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Civil Cover sheet or the Certificate of Service (page 5).

Also, DO NOT sign page 5, Certificate of Service at this time. Retain for later use.

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Section 3 – How to File Lehigh County Assessment Appeal Form

After completing the Petition, Exhibits, and Verification, be sure to file it within 30 days after the mailing date on the Notice of Formal Assessment.

You may visit the office to file in person or by mail.

Steps to Filing the Lehigh County Assessment Appeal Form in Person

Visit the Judicial Records-Civil Division at 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA, Room 122.

Then locate the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records-Civil Division. The hours of Operation are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Submit the following

• One (1) Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Civil Cover Sheet
• One (1) original Petition and Verification, which contains the original signatures of all of the property owners of record and Exhibits
• Five (5) photocopies of the signed Petition, Exhibits, and Verification
• Prepare cash, check, and money order in the amount of $152.50 for filing fees
• Next, make a check payable to the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records: if you want to use a credit card, be ready to pay an additional $4 fee for credit card use
• Afterward, give everything listed above to the Clerk of Judicial Records
• Finally, the Clerk will time-stamp all copies, keep the original, and return the photocopies to you for service upon the interested parties.

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Steps to Filing the Lehigh County Assessment Appeal Form by Mail

Your filing is only complete when the Clerk of Judicial Records receives it. So give it enough time. You can mail them to the following office:

Clerk of Judicial Records-Civil Division, Room 122
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 W Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101

Mail the following:

• One (1) Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Civil Cover Sheet
• One (1) original Petition and Verification, which contains the original signatures of all of the property owners of record and Exhibits
• Five (5) photocopies of the signed Petition, Exhibits, and Verification will be time-stamped and returned to you for service by you the interested parties
• Make checks or money orders payable to the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records for $152.50 for filing fees.
• Also, submit one (1) 9″ X 12″ self-addressed stamped envelope with at least $1.90 United States postage on the return envelope. The Clerk’s office needs this envelope to return the time-stamped copies to you for service.
• Finally, wait for the time-stamped photocopies to be returned to you before proceeding to the next step.

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Section 4 – Appeal Service

Immediately after mailing the Petition, Exhibits, and Verification with the Clerk of Judicial Records or after you have received the time-stamped copies from the court by mail, mail one (1) Time-Stamped copy of the Petition, Exhibits, and Verification to each of the parties listed below;

Note: You can send the copies by First Class mail; however, you don’t have to use Certified mail.

Lehigh County Board of Assessment Appeals
Lehigh County Government Center
17 South Seventh Street
Allentown PA 18101

William Platt II, Esquire
Solicitor to Lehigh County Board of Assessment Appeals
17 South Seventh Street
Allentown PA 18101

You can also check the School District in which the property is located at www.mylehighcountyproperty.com for the address listing. Click on Government Contacts.

Also, check for the City Township or Borough in which the property is located at www.mylehighcountyproperty.com. You will find the address listing. Then click on Government Contacts.

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Section 5 – Appeal Certificate of Service

The Lehigh County Assessment website also states that you must file the Certificate of Service form with the Clerk of Judicial records within 30 days after the filing of the Petition, Exhibits, and Verification.

Then do the following 

• Complete Certificate of Service (page 5)
• Fill in the date that you mailed copies to the interested parties
• Sign and date
• Make sure all fields are complete including Borough address, School District address, Caption, and file number.
• File the Certificate of Service with the Clerk of Judicial Records-Civil Division, either in person or by mail.

Section 6 – Appear for Appeal Status Conference

Finally, you will receive a letter from the court giving you the date, time, and location to appear for a status conference.

Conclusion

The Lehigh County tax assessment uses the base year of 2013. You can get information on assessment records through various means as mentioned earlier. You can also appeal your assessment if you’re not satisfied with it. All this information is available on the Lehigh County Assessment website. You can follow any of the links we indicated earlier to contact the office for further guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions on Lehigh County Assessment

Where and when will the upset sale be advertised?

The sale date is advertised at least 30 days in advance in the Lehigh Legal Register and two general circulation newspapers in Lehigh County. Each publication announces the sale once.

How do I file a Lehigh County tax appeal?

If you are a property owner in Lehigh County, you can file an appeal if you are unsatisfied with the property assessment.

You can only file petitions for appeal within 30 days after the mailing date on the Notice of Formal Assessment.

What is property assessment?

Property assessment determines how much your property is worth and the tax you’ll pay as a property owner.

How to find Lehigh county assessment records pa

If you want the Lehigh County Assessment Records, First, you can use the countyoffice.org website for your Lehigh county assessment records search.

How does Lehigh county tax assessment work?

Lehigh County uses the “base year”, for tax assessment. The base year for Lehigh County is 2013. So this has been effective since the date of the last County-wide reassessment.

Where and when will the upset sale be advertised?

The sale date is advertised at least 30 days in advance in the Lehigh Legal Register and two general circulation newspapers in Lehigh County. Each publication advertises the sale once.

How do I file a Lehigh County tax appeal?

If you are a property owner in Lehigh County, you can file an appeal if you are not satisfied with the property assessment.

You can only file petitions for appeal within 30 days after the mailing date on the Notice of Formal Assessment. 

What is property assessment?

Property assessment is the process of determining how much your property is worth and the tax you’ll pay as a property owner.

How to find lehigh county assessment records pa

If you want the Lehigh County Assessment Records, First you can use the countyoffice.org website for your Lehigh county assessment records search.

How does lehigh county tax assessment work?

Lehigh County uses the “base year”, for tax assessment. The base year for Lehigh County is 2013. So this has been effective since the date of the last County-wide reassessment.

References

• www.countyoffice.org – Lehigh County Property Records Search (Pennsylvania)

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