How to Appeal Your Assessment: Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Contact Us During Open Book
Open Book refers to a period of time when the completed assessment roll is open for examination. This period of time is an opportunity to discuss your property value with the assessor and provide reason for changing the value, if appropriate.
Open Book occurs each year between the fourth Monday in April and the third Monday in May.
If you feel that assessment data is inaccurate, please contact our office:
Step 2: Request an Appeals Form and Return by the Third Monday in May
Appeals must be in writing on prescribed forms. A property-specific form can be filled out online, or will be emailed or mailed to you by one of our team members.
Forms must be filled out in full. Please include a telephone number and/or email address on fully completed form.
The deadline to return your appeals form(s) is the third Monday in May.
Appeals forms can be returned by:
- U.S. Mail:
- City of Milwaukee Assessor’s Office
200 E Wells Street, Room 507
Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Drop Box:
- City of Milwaukee Assessor’s Office
Milwaukee City Hall, 5th Floor
200 E Wells Street, Room 507
Step 3: Include Evidence with Your Appeal
It is recommended that evidence be submitted with all appeals. The appeals form is due by the third Monday in May but the supporting evidence may be submitted after the appeals deadline. Following are examples of evidence types for residential or commercial properties. Note: Wisconsin DOR form PR-323 is required for all commercial properties.
Acceptable Evidence Types
Residential Property Owners:
- A copy of an appraisal representative of market conditions as of January 1 of the current year.
- If you only have a paper copy of your appraisal, we encourage you to reach out to your lender or the appraisal company to get a digital copy to submit with your appeal form.
- A copy of a market analysis from a local real estate agent representative of market conditions as of January 1 of the current year.
- If you do not have a copy, we encourage you to reach out to your realtor and ask them to send you a digital copy to submit with your appeal form.
- Photos of the interior or exterior of your home that show deferred maintenance area as of January 1 of the current year – electronic copies preferred.
- Photos of the interior or exterior of your home that show a certain feature that we have listed on our Property Record Card was not present as of January 1 of the current year.
Commercial Property Owners:
- A copy of an appraisal representative of market conditions as of January 1 of the current year.
- If you only have a paper copy of your appraisal, we encourage you to reach out to your lender or the appraisal company to get a digital copy to submit with your appeal form.
- Photos of the interior or exterior of the property that show it is not currently rentable or usable as of January 1 of the current year.
- Rent roll as of January 1 of the current year.
- Income and expense statement that includes all income and expense data on the property for the year prior to January 1 of the current year.
- Download and print or save fillable Income and Expense forms (PR-323).
- If you have not submitted an income and expense statement (PR-323), you may be prohibited from testifying before the Board of Review. See, Wis. Stat. § 70.47(7)(af).
Step 4: After Appeal Has Been Submitted
4A: Board of Assessors
Appeals received prior to the filing deadline of the third Monday in May will be reviewed by a property appraiser and the appraiser’s determination will be reviewed by the Board of Assessors. The Board of Assessors reviews all appeals and makes necessary changes to arrive at market value. The Board of Assessors will send a written notice of their determination.
4B: Board of Review - Optional
If you do not agree with the Board of Assessor’s determination, you may ask the Board of Review Clerk for a Board of Review hearing.
Please refer to Appealing an Assessment (FAQ) and the Board of Review sections under the Appeals tab for more specific information.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue Board of Review Calendar will be updated if meeting dates change. If you would like to be contacted when any Wisconsin municipality posts its dates/times or makes a change to their dates/time, you can provide an email address on this page.