What started as a small idea to educate property owners about flawed assessments, Georgia property tax appeal process, and the 299(c) freeze, has grown into something larger and unexpected.
More property owners than ever are discovering the massive flaws of the mass appraisal system and the tax assessment system. They are upset and outraged. The want to take action and do something about it.
The best way for property owners to protect themselves and ensure the integrity of fair assessment is getting educated on the Georgia property tax appeal process and the 299(c) freeze provision. Students and followers of Tax Freeze Command (TFC), learn its philosophy and approach in engaging the Georgia property tax appeal process.
You can hire other people and companies to do your property tax appeals. But none will Educate, Empower, and Enlighten you the way we do it.
Join us at Tax Freeze Command. Become a Member. Learn the Tax Freeze Command way of doing things.
Where are you in this journey?
The TFC community recognizes six levels of engagement. Every level matters. Every level is earned.
Level 0: Unengaged (Civilian)
The starting point for most Georgia homeowners. There are three distinct types of Unengaged.
- Sleepers – They have no awareness that property tax appeals exist or that they are likely overpaying. They are not necessarily lazy. They are simply uninformed.
- Snoozers – They have heard something about property tax appeals. Maybe a neighbor or friend mentioned it. Or they heard about it from a real estate professional. But they hit the snooze button like I did many years ago and went back to doing nothing about it.
- Complainers – They know their property taxes are too high. They will tell everyone how unfair the system is. But they won’t do anything about it. They may or may not have heard about property tax appeals. In either case, they don’t do anything about it.
Civilians is the collective term I use for anyone at Level 0 or Level 1 who has never been through a property tax appeal. Most Georgia property owners are civilians. But that can change quickly with an informed and enlightened decision.
Level 1: Awakened (Civilian)
They found and see the light. They have learned about Tax Freeze Command and enlightened about property tax appeals. They are in active preparation mode, absorbing information, and getting ready to do something about it at long last. They have not yet filed a tax appeal but something has changed inside them. They are no longer sleeping or snoozing. They are awoken and moving forward.
Level 2: Committed
These people have finally stopped waiting and started doing something about it. They actively learned and prepared. They made a decision they had enough and they have filed and submitted their first tax appeal. They are now committed. They are fully engaged and committed to see through to completion the tax appeal process.
Level 3: Veterans
They have successfully completed their appeal and secured the 299c value freeze. The have become season appellants. They know what the tax appeal sausage factory looks like from the inside. They maneuvered, negotiated, and improvised along the way. They know from actual experience that tax appeals is not entirely linear or orderly. The have met the TAO in person and spoken with them. They know the TAO employ real people making judgments and decisions that go beyond a report and a sheet of paper. Value is not always a clean, straight formula.
A veterans experience is real and earned. They are informed and can share their lived experience. When a Veteran speaks about their experience of the tax appeal process, I always listen. I learn from everyone.
Level 4: Champions
These are appeal veterans who go beyond their own appeal. They spread awareness, share information, with their friends, family, and neighbors. They are the special folks who voluntarily buy extra copies of my book for them, share videos on their Facebook feed, write recommendations & testimonials, and so many little things I might never know about. (Yes, these actually happened because they tell me!)
They share their enthusiasm and trust in Tax Freeze Command and become a believer and practitioner of the tax appeal process. The TFC Champion understands that tax appeals is an important issue to be shared for many reasons. The bottom line is that, Champions believe that appealing property taxes is bigger than appealing their own property taxes.
Level 5: Navigators
Navigator are Champions who go further than spread the message and their enthusiasm. Navigators actively assist other community members through their own tax appeals based on their own growing expertise and lived experience.
Navigators have been through the journey themselves and now help others find their way through it. They are often informal tutors and coaches to their friends, family, and neighbors. They may even become tax appeal practitioners and agents in their own right. A Navigator doesn’t take over your appeal unless you want them to. Regardless of their role, they walk alongside you through the process.
Level 6: Ambassadors
The highest level of the TFC community. They are approved allies and associates of Tax Freeze Command. They understand what we do, provide essential expertise, bring others in, significantly contributes and enhances the community.
