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Assessor

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1. How often is property appraised in Teton County?

Wyoming statute requires that all property be listed, valued and assessed as of January 1 of each year. Assessment schedules must reflect the owner of record as of that date and be mailed on or before the fourth Monday in April.

2. When can I expect the Assessor’s Office to complete an on-site inspection of my property?

All properties in Teton County are physically inspected once every six years. Properties are also inspected when a building permit is issued or an address assigned. Inspections can also be done as deemed necessary in the event of a disagreement with the property value as established by the Assessor’s Office or upon the request of a property owner.

3. What should I do if I disagree with the value on my assessment?

If you do not agree with the value, you can contact our office during the 30-day protest period and speak to the Assessor or an appraiser about your value. It is important to remember that if you choose to appeal the Assessor`s value, you should provide pertinent information supporting your estimated value. A recent appraisal (less than 12 months old) of your own property may be good evidence of its value.

4. Why did my value change?

Many factors affect market value - a change in property characteristics, market supply and demand, interest rates, labor and material costs to name a few.

5. How did you arrive at the value of my property?

Industry-accepted mass appraisal procedures and methodologies are used to determine property values. Factors such as location, property characteristics and sales information are analyzed each year to determine the estimated fair market value.

6. How do you acquire actual sales prices?

Wyoming statute (34-1-142) requires a statement of consideration be completed whenever a deed, contract or other document transferring legal title is recorded. Information such as the date of sale, purchase price and the sale’s terms are required. This information is not generally available to the public.

7. Can I review the sales information used in establishing the assessed value of my property?

Property owners appealing their assessment may review the sales that were used to determine the fair market value of their property. The review period is limited to the thirty-day appeal period following receipt of your estimated assessment in late April or early May. Property owners may not further disclose this sales information to anyone else. The information may be introduced later in the event of a formal appeal of a tax assessment, but any further disclosure is prohibited by state law. Due to the confidentiality of the sales information it cannot be mailed, electronically transmitted or given over the telephone.

8. Will my taxes go up if the market value of my property increases?

Property taxes do not automatically increase simply because the fair market value of the property has increased. Market value is only a portion of the formula used in calculating tax amounts. The formula for determining actual tax dollars is as follows:

• Fair market value multiplied by level of assessment equals assessed value
• Assessed value multiplied by mill levy equals tax dollars

9. If I paid $86,000, why does my assessment schedule say $87,500?

Wyoming statute also states an individual statement of consideration shall not, by itself, be used to adjust the assessed value of any individual property. To ensure that sold properties are being valued using the same procedures as unsold, all valid open market sales within a neighborhood are used. Neighborhood boundaries are developed on location, economic forces, governmental and social factors. Within neighborhoods other considerations may be age, type of construction, etc.

10. Are all sales used in the market studies?

No, only sales that are considered valid open market sales are used. Sales involving foreclosures, relatives, gifts, etc. are generally not used.

11. What is the level of assessment?

The level of assessment is the percentage of the market value that determines the assessed value of a property. In Wyoming, the level of assessment for minerals is 100 percent; the level of assessment for industrial use properties is 11.5 percent; and for all other properties the level of assessment is 9.5 percent. These percentages are determined by the state legislature.

12. What is a mill levy?

A mill levy equates to the number of dollars in taxes that a property owner must pay for every $1000 of assessed value. The Teton County Commission establishes the total mill levy for each tax district based on budget requests from the various taxing entities - municipalities, school districts, water or sewer districts, fire districts or other specially formed districts as designated by state statute - within the districts’ boundaries.

13. How is the mill levy determined?

In order to determine the mill levy for each tax district, taxing entities must submit their final budget requests. The budget, less any anticipated revenues from non-property tax sources, is divided by the assessed value to obtain the tax rate, or mill levy. Assessed values determined by the County Assessor and values of state assessments - those industries that are valued by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, such as utilities and minerals - are combined to determine the total assessed value within the taxing entities’ boundaries. An individual assessed value is multiplied by the total mill levy for the tax district to obtain an individual tax amount.

14. Is agricultural land valued differently than other properties?

In Wyoming, land meeting the criteria for agricultural land classification is valued based on the land’s productive capabilities under normal conditions. Landowners must complete a sworn affidavit (PDF) stating the land met the legal requirements for such classification.

15. What is real property?

Real property is defined as land and all things attached to the land.

16. What is personal property?

Personal property is all property that does not meet the definition of real property. Examples of personal property include furniture and fixtures - desks, chairs, tables, couches, file cabinets, display counters, shelves, etc.; computer equipment and software; telephones, fax machines, copiers; heavy machinery; oilfield equipment, etc.

17. What is the deadline for reporting personal property?

The deadline for reporting changes to personal property listings is March 1 of each assessment year. Personal property forms, noting the information provided the previous year, are mailed to businesses in the Teton County in early December of each year. Business owners are asked to make any additions or deletions and return the form to the County Assessor. If there have been no changes, owners need only so indicate, sign and return the form. The reporting deadline may by extended to April 1 upon written request, provided that request is made no later than February 15.

18. If I am trading in a vehicle and purchasing a new vehicle, do I pay sales tax on the sales price before or after trade?

You pay 5% sales tax on the net purchase price, after trade.

19. What forms of payment will the Treasurer accept?

The treasurer accepts the following forms of payments:

• Cash
• Cashiers Check
• Credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.  Note that a convenience fee is charged for all credit card payments.
• Money Order
• Online payments
• Out-of-town personal check, if you own property in Teton County
• Personal check, if written on a local bank