Occasionally, there are differences in property details between various sources. These can include Treasurers, Assessors, Central Appraisal Districts, Tax Assessor-Collectors, Real Estate Systems, Mapping sites, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Overview
We gather information from a wide range of reliable sources to construct and manage our comprehensive databases. These sources may vary depending on the specific state and product orders we receive. Some of the key sources we consult include:
- Treasurers: We gather valuable information from treasurers who manage the financial affairs of a particular state or county.
- Assessors: Assessors play a crucial role in determining the value of properties for taxation purposes, and we gather data from them to ensure accuracy in our databases.
- Central Appraisal Districts: These districts assess the value of properties within a particular jurisdiction, and we rely on them for vital information.
- Tax Assessor-Collectors: Tax Assessor-Collectors are responsible for collecting property taxes, and we gather data from them to provide comprehensive information on tax-related matters.
- Real Estate Systems: We consult real estate systems that provide detailed information on properties, including ownership, sales history, and property characteristics.
- Mapping Sites: Mapping sites offer valuable geographical data, such as property boundaries and locations, which we incorporate into our databases.
- U.S. Postal Service: We also rely on the U.S. Postal Service for accurate and up-to-date addresses, which are essential for maintaining our databases.
Despite our efforts to collect information from various sources, it is possible to encounter occasional inconsistencies. In these situations, we give priority to the most authoritative source. Usually, this refers to the primary entity responsible for issuing tax information, such as the County Treasurer or the Tax Assessor-Collector.
Our commitment to using reliable sources ensures that our databases provide accurate, trustworthy, and comprehensive information.
Additional Details
For more detailed information on potential inconsistencies, please refer to the sections below. These sections provide further explanations and insights into any discrepancies you may come across.
Owner Names
The most frequent cause of owner name discrepancies is related to recent property sales. During the tax year, Treasurers and Tax Assessor-Collectors retain the names of the owners at the beginning on the current tax year. Bills and payment receipts will display the owner at the time the taxes were assessed or billed. Usually, owner names are updated when a new tax year is released, which are also known as annual tax rolls updates.
Another reason for name mismatches could be due to the incomplete recording of a Quit Claim deed.
Physical / Situs Addresses
Parcels that have recently undergone changes, such as merges or subdivisions, or those with new construction, may have addresses that differ from other sources. In some cases, street numbers or complete addresses may not have been assigned or may have been changed.
Additionally, when new buildings are constructed on a corner, they may face a different street than originally planned when the parcel was divided.
Changes in street names or the use of alternative names further complicate address consistency. Our products rely on the address information provided by the tax authority and can be cross-checked using the USPS address lookup to verify any multiple aliases.
Legal Descriptions
Abbreviations and full terms sometimes lead to confusion when comparing legal descriptions. To simplify the process, it is helpful to assume that any abbreviations and their written out counterparts are equivalent. Here are a few common terms and their corresponding abbreviations:
- Lot: LT, L
- Block: Blk, B
- Section: Sect, Sec, Sn, S
- Township: Town, Twn, Tn, T
- Range: Rng, Rg, R
- Subdivision: Subdiv, Sub, S
Other discrepancies in legal descriptions may be due to typographical errors or data entry errors. Tax authorities may or may not correct these without formal requests.
Exemptions
Exemptions on properties change with the transfer of a property. Some states require owners reapply or recertify every year. Other states allow the exemption to persist until there a change of ownership through a quit claim deed or purchase of the property.
Certificates issued by COCRS are historical documents, not forward looking documents. As such, our documents will reflect the most recent tax information assessed. When exemptions change as part of an ownership transfer, they may not be reflected until the net tax bill or statement is issued.