(Washington, DC) – The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) urges all property owners who feel their property is misclassified as vacant and recently received a tax bill at the higher tax rate to contact DCRA immediately.
Property owners should apply for applicable exemptions or ask for their vacant property to be reclassified before the property tax bill due date on Monday, March 31, 2008. Property owners can contact DCRA’s Vacant Property Unit at (202) 442-4332.
In 2007, authority for vacant property classification transferred from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue to DCRA. The new law modified the exemptions available and reduced the maximum allowable time for exemptions from the higher tax rate to three years. More than 3,400 properties are now classified as vacant following a recent citywide housing survey, up from 800 in 2006.
Hundreds of property owners received an exemption from the vacant property tax in the past two months – most within 24 hours. The DC Office of Tax and Revenue is generating new tax bills on an expedited basis.
“We want to ensure we put the ‘vacant’ stamp on the right properties,” said DCRA Director Linda K. Argo. “Property owners just have to register their property, and if seeking an exemption, provide a few documents, and they are in compliance with the new law.”
The District requires all property owners to register their properties with DCRA within 30 days after they become vacant. Informational materials on exemptions, vacant property registration forms and appeal information are available on the DCRA website.
DCRA provides an administrative appeal process for owners who are denied an exemption. DCRA issues a final determination within 30 days of the appeal. Owners may appeal DCRA’s final decision to the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals.
Important Links and Information on Vacant Property