FAQ’s Regarding 2025 Assessed Valuation Changes:

Why did my assessed value change?

Since 1975, by Iowa Code, residential, commercial and industrial properties are to be assessed at market value. Every odd-numbered year, assessments are changed to reflect the jurisdiction’s market transactions between buyers/sellers. Assessors must use sales from the prior year (2024) when setting their 2025 assessments. As the market inflates, assessed values increase. If the market becomes deflated, assessed values decrease.  

My house or commercial building value increased 12%, will my taxes go up 12%?  

Values have increased across the state due to inflation and other factors influencing the market. However, when it comes time to pay taxes, the total taxable value for each classification is limited to a 3% increase statewide. In the fall of this year, the Iowa Department of Revenue will determine what percentage of the assessed value is taxable and rollbacks will be applied accordingly. Next budget year, your local taxing bodies (i.e. your schools, cities, county, assessor, hospital, etc.) will set their tax levies using this total taxable value as their basis. You will receive notification and have the right to attend public hearings during the timefame that these budgets are being set. Legislative changes may also affect the taxes payable. Due to all of these unknows, neither the Assessor, the Treasurer, nor the Auditor can accurately predict an individual’s future tax on current value until the middle of next year.

Why did my agricultural land increase? 

Agricultural land and buildings are valued based on the productivity of the land. A five year average is used with two old years dropping off and two new going into the equation. Much of the 2025 increase was due to adding on years 2022 and 2023 which included COVID payments. Because these increases are state-wide, the rate at which ag land is taxed will decrease via the ag rollback. See the video below titled "2019 Agricultural Rollback & Taxable Value Changes" for more explanation of the rollback.

Why did my property go up when it didn’t sell recently?

In accordance with Iowa law, all “arms-length” 2025 sales from the county are used to determine the total value increase or decrease required for Residential and Commercial classifications. Due to the lack of commercial sales, the Department of Revenue also conducts appraisals which are included in determining whether increases or decreases are necessary in that class. When your neighbor sells their property for more than the assessment, that can affect your value. 

Why did my house value go up when I didn’t fix it up?

Making physical changes to a property can increase the value of that individual property, but if you made no improvements, the market is likely the only reason for your change in value. The assessor is required to assess properties at market value, so if the market indicates housing prices have increased, it is likely most properties will increase regardless of whether or not improvements have been made.

Why did my house go up more than my neighbor/relative’s house?

An assessor uses the information from the sales in their jurisdiction to determine changes. This may mean the entire class of property will need to increase, but sometimes sales indicate changes are needed in specific areas of the county or need to be applied differently to specific types of property.  

Would you buy my house for the assessed value?

Your assessor isn’t in the business to buy each property in the county for their assessment. Instead, in accordance with Iowa law, assessors are charged with the task of assessing each property for what it should sell for in the open market through an arms-length transaction between a willing buyer and willing seller. However, if you do not believe you could sell your property for the current assessment, your Assessor would like to hear from you. Often a review of your property brings to light conditions affecting value that your Assessor is unaware of.

What if I disagree with my current Assessment?

It is possible that an individual property may be assessed too low or too high. If you are not familiar with the market, sales data is available on this website and at the Assessor's Office.  If you feel your residential, commercial, or industrial assessment does not represent what it would sell for, your individual property data may need to be reviewed. You may request the Assessor conduct an informal review between April 2nd and April 25th, 2025. You may file a petition with the Board of Review between April 2nd and April 30th, 2025.

Once these dates pass, while it will not change the current assessment, you may at any time request that the Assessor's Office review your property. Subsequent changes would be reflected in the following January 1 assessment.

• Planning new construction or a remodel project? Always check county FEMA maps to confirm that your project is not in the flood plain. If the property is within the 100 year flood zone, a permit must be obtained with DNR approval before beginning construction. Failure to do this may result in fines and may cause the county to lose flood insurance eligibility. There is a digitized flood zone layer and FIRM Panel # layer now selectable within the GIS Maps tab or through an individual parcel search. You may also view county maps in the Van Buren County Assessor's Office or city maps at your City Hall.
• Sign up for a tax abatement to lower your taxable value for the number of years specified in your city/county revitalization plan. Those within city limits must apply with their City Hall for approval, and those in the township must attain an application from the Assessor's Office to submit for approval by the County Supervisors. The deadline is February 1 of the year in which the exemption is first claimed.
• Contact the County Sanitarian for septic permits or inspections before beginning your construction or remodel project.
• Sign up for the Homestead Tax Credit, Homestead 65, Military Exemption or Disabled Veteran Homestead Credit in the Assessor's Office. The deadline is July 1 of the assessment year in which the exemption is first claimed. 
• Remember to report all building changes to the County Assessor's Office.
• A link has been added within our real estate search which allows you to access the Treasurer's tax system data on a given parcel. 

To learn more about the assessment and valuation process, credits and exemptions, visit the Iowa State Association of Assessors website by clicking here: ISAA Website.