CHAPTER 5717: APPEALS

An appeal from a decision of a county board of revision may be taken to the board of tax appeals within thirty days after notice of the decision of the county board of revision is mailed as provided in division (A) of section 5715.20 of the Revised Code. Such an appeal may be taken by the county auditor, the tax commissioner, or any board, legislative authority, public official, or taxpayer authorized by section 5715.19 of the Revised Code to file complaints against valuations or assessments with the auditor. Such appeal shall be taken by the filing of a notice of appeal, in person or by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service, with the board of tax appeals and with the county board of revision. If notice of appeal is filed by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service as provided in section 5703.056 of the Revised Code, the date of the United States postmark placed on the sender’s receipt by the postal service or the date of receipt recorded by the authorized delivery service shall be treated as the date of filing. Upon receipt of such notice of appeal such county board of revision shall by certified mail notify all persons thereof who were parties to the proceeding before such county board of revision, and shall file proof of such notice with the board of tax appeals. The county board of revision shall thereupon certify to the board of tax appeals a transcript of the record of the proceedings of the county board of revision pertaining to the original complaint, and all evidence offered in connection therewith. Such appeal may be heard by the board of tax appeals at its offices in Columbus or in the county where the property is listed for taxation, or the board of tax appeals may cause its examiners to conduct such hearing and to report to it their findings for affirmation or rejection.

The board of tax appeals may order the appeal to be heard on the record and the evidence certified to it by the county board of revision, or it may order the hearing of additional evidence, and it may make such investigation concerning the appeal as it deems proper.

Effective Date: 03-14-2003

(A) As used in this chapter, “tax administrator” has the same meaning as in section 718.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Appeals from a municipal board of appeal created under section 718.11 of the Revised Code may be taken by the taxpayer or the tax administrator to the board of tax appeals or may be taken by the taxpayer or the tax administrator to a court of common pleas as otherwise provided by law. If the taxpayer or the tax administrator elects to make an appeal to the board of tax appeals or court of common pleas, the appeal shall be taken by the filing of a notice of appeal with the board of tax appeals or court of common pleas, the municipal board of appeal, and the opposing party. The notice of appeal shall be filed within sixty days after the day the appellant receives notice of the decision issued under section 718.11 of the Revised Code. The notice of appeal may be filed in person or by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service as provided in section 5703.056 of the Revised Code. If the notice of appeal is filed by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service as provided in section 5703.056 of the Revised Code, the date of the United States postmark placed on the sender’s receipt by the postal service or the date of receipt recorded by the authorized delivery service shall be treated as the date of filing. The notice of appeal shall have attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference a true copy of the decision issued under section 718.11 of the Revised Code and shall specify the errors therein complained of, but failure to attach a copy of such notice and incorporate it by reference in the notice of appeal does not invalidate the appeal.

(C) Upon the filing of a notice of appeal with the board of tax appeals, the municipal board of appeal shall certify to the board of tax appeals a transcript of the record of the proceedings before it, together with all evidence considered by it in connection therewith. Such appeals may be heard by the board at its office in Columbus or in the county where the appellant resides, or it may cause its examiners to conduct such hearings and to report to it their findings for affirmation or rejection. The board may order the appeal to be heard upon the record and the evidence certified to it by the administrator, but upon the application of any interested party the board shall order the hearing of additional evidence, and the board may make such investigation concerning the appeal as it considers proper.

(D) If an issue being appealed under this section is addressed in a municipal corporation’s ordinance or regulation, the tax administrator, upon the request of the board of tax appeals, shall provide a copy of the ordinance or regulation to the board of tax appeals.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003

Except as otherwise provided by law, appeals from final determinations by the tax commissioner of any preliminary, amended, or final tax assessments, reassessments, valuations, determinations, findings, computations, or orders made by the commissioner may be taken to the board of tax appeals by the taxpayer, by the person to whom notice of the tax assessment, reassessment, valuation, determination, finding, computation, or order by the commissioner is required by law to be given, by the director of budget and management if the revenues affected by such decision would accrue primarily to the state treasury, or by the county auditors of the counties to the undivided general tax funds of which the revenues affected by such decision would primarily accrue. Appeals from the redetermination by the director of development under division (B) of section 5709.64 or division (A) of section 5709.66 of the Revised Code may be taken to the board of tax appeals by the enterprise to which notice of the redetermination is required by law to be given. Appeals from a decision of the tax commissioner concerning an application for a property tax exemption may be taken to the board of tax appeals by a school district that filed a statement concerning such application under division (C) of section 5715.27 of the Revised Code. Appeals from a redetermination by the director of job and family services under section 5733.42 of the Revised Code may be taken by the person to which the notice of the redetermination is required by law to be given under that section.

Such appeals shall be taken by the filing of a notice of appeal with the board, and with the tax commissioner if the tax commissioner’s action is the subject of the appeal, with the director of development if that director’s action is the subject of the appeal, or with the director of job and family services if that director’s action is the subject of the appeal. The notice of appeal shall be filed within sixty days after service of the notice of the tax assessment, reassessment, valuation, determination, finding, computation, or order by the commissioner or redetermination by the director has been given as provided in section 5703.37, 5709.64, 5709.66, or 5733.42 of the Revised Code. The notice of such appeal may be filed in person or by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service. If the notice of such appeal is filed by certified mail, express mail, or authorized delivery service as provided in section 5703.056 of the Revised Code, the date of the United States postmark placed on the sender’s receipt by the postal service or the date of receipt recorded by the authorized delivery service shall be treated as the date of filing. The notice of appeal shall have attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference a true copy of the notice sent by the commissioner or director to the taxpayer, enterprise, or other person of the final determination or redetermination complained of, and shall also specify the errors therein complained of, but failure to attach a copy of such notice and incorporate it by reference in the notice of appeal does not invalidate the appeal.

Upon the filing of a notice of appeal, the tax commissioner or the director, as appropriate, shall certify to the board a transcript of the record of the proceedings before the commissioner or director, together with all evidence considered by the commissioner or director in connection therewith. Such appeals or applications may be heard by the board at its office in Columbus or in the county where the appellant resides, or it may cause its examiners to conduct such hearings and to report to it their findings for affirmation or rejection. The board may order the appeal to be heard upon the record and the evidence certified to it by the commissioner or director, but upon the application of any interested party the board shall order the hearing of additional evidence, and it may make such investigation concerning the appeal as it considers proper.

Effective Date: 09-06-2002

(A) A decision of the board of tax appeals on an appeal filed with it pursuant to section 5717.01, 5717.011, or 5717.02 of the Revised Code shall be entered of record on the journal together with the date when the order is filed with the secretary for journalization.

(B) In case of an appeal from a decision of a county board of revision, the board of tax appeals shall determine the taxable value of the property whose valuation or assessment by the county board of revision is complained of, or in the event the complaint and appeal is against a discriminatory valuation, shall determine a valuation which shall correct such discrimination, and shall determine the liability of the property for taxation, if that question is in issue, and the board of tax appeals’s decision and the date when it was filed with the secretary for journalization shall be certified by the board by certified mail to all persons who were parties to the appeal before the board, to the person in whose name the property is listed, or sought to be listed, if such person is not a party to the appeal, to the county auditor of the county in which the property involved in the appeal is located, and to the tax commissioner.

In correcting a discriminatory valuation, the board of tax appeals shall increase or decrease the value of the property whose valuation or assessment by the county board of revision is complained of by a per cent or amount which will cause such property to be listed and valued for taxation by an equal and uniform rule.

(C) In the case of an appeal from a review, redetermination, or correction of a tax assessment, valuation, determination, finding, computation, or order of the tax commissioner, the order of the board of tax appeals and the date of the entry thereof upon its journal shall be certified by the board by certified mail to all persons who were parties to the appeal before the board, the person in whose name the property is listed or sought to be listed, if the decision determines the valuation or liability of property for taxation and if such person is not a party to the appeal, the taxpayer or other person to whom notice of the tax assessment, valuation, determination, finding, computation, or order, or correction or redetermination thereof, by the tax commissioner was by law required to be given, the director of budget and management, if the revenues affected by such decision would accrue primarily to the state treasury, and the county auditors of the counties to the undivided general tax funds of which the revenues affected by such decision would primarily accrue.

(D) In the case of an appeal from a municipal board of appeal created under section 718.11 of the Revised Code, the order of the board of tax appeals and the date of the entry thereof upon the board’s journal shall be certified by the board by certified mail to all persons who were parties to the appeal before the board.

(E) In the case of all other appeals or applications filed with and determined by the board the order was filed by the secretary for journalization shall be certified by the board by certified mail to the person who is a party to such appeal or application, to such persons as the law requires, and to such other persons as the board deems proper.

(F) The orders of the board may affirm, reverse, vacate, modify, or remand the tax assessments, valuations, determinations, findings, computations, or orders complained of in the appeals determined by the board, and the board’s decision shall become final and conclusive for the current year unless reversed, vacated, or modified as provided in section 5717.04 of the Revised Code. When an order of the board becomes final the tax commissioner and all officers to whom such decision has been certified shall make the changes in their tax lists or other records which the decision requires.

(G) If the board finds that issues not raised on the appeal are important to a determination of a controversy, the board may remand the cause for an administrative determination and the issuance of a new tax assessment, valuation, determination, finding, computation, or order, unless the parties stipulate to the determination of such other issues without remand. An order remanding the cause is a final order. If the order relates to any issue other than a municipal income tax matter appealed under sections 718.11 and 5717.011 of the Revised Code, the order may be appealed to the court of appeals in Franklin county. If the order relates to a municipal income tax matter appealed under sections 718.11 and 5717.011 of the Revised Code, the order may be appealed to the court of appeals for the county in which the municipal corporation in which the dispute arose is primarily situated.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003

The proceeding to obtain a reversal, vacation, or modification of a decision of the board of tax appeals shall be by appeal to the supreme court or the court of appeals for the county in which the property taxed is situate or in which the taxpayer resides. If the taxpayer is a corporation, then the proceeding to obtain such reversal, vacation, or modification shall be by appeal to the supreme court or to the court of appeals for the county in which the property taxed is situate, or the county of residence of the agent for service of process, tax notices, or demands, or the county in which the corporation has its principal place of business. In all other instances, the proceeding to obtain such reversal, vacation, or modification shall be by appeal to the court of appeals for Franklin county.

Appeals from decisions of the board determining appeals from decisions of county boards of revision may be instituted by any of the persons who were parties to the appeal before the board of tax appeals, by the person in whose name the property involved in the appeal is listed or sought to be listed, if such person was not a party to the appeal before the board of tax appeals, or by the county auditor of the county in which the property involved in the appeal is located.

Appeals from decisions of the board of tax appeals determining appeals from final determinations by the tax commissioner of any preliminary, amended, or final tax assessments, reassessments, valuations, determinations, findings, computations, or orders made by the commissioner may be instituted by any of the persons who were parties to the appeal or application before the board, by the person in whose name the property is listed or sought to be listed, if the decision appealed from determines the valuation or liability of property for taxation and if any such person was not a party to the appeal or application before the board, by the taxpayer or any other person to whom the decision of the board appealed from was by law required to be certified, by the director of budget and management, if the revenue affected by the decision of the board appealed from would accrue primarily to the state treasury, by the county auditor of the county to the undivided general tax funds of which the revenues affected by the decision of the board appealed from would primarily accrue, or by the tax commissioner.

Appeals from decisions of the board upon all other appeals or applications filed with and determined by the board may be instituted by any of the persons who were parties to such appeal or application before the board, by any persons to whom the decision of the board appealed from was by law required to be certified, or by any other person to whom the board certified the decision appealed from, as authorized by section 5717.03 of the Revised Code.

Such appeals shall be taken within thirty days after the date of the entry of the decision of the board on the journal of its proceedings, as provided by such section, by the filing by appellant of a notice of appeal with the court to which the appeal is taken and the board. If a timely notice of appeal is filed by a party, any other party may file a notice of appeal within ten days of the date on which the first notice of appeal was filed or within the time otherwise prescribed in this section, whichever is later. A notice of appeal shall set forth the decision of the board appealed from and the errors therein complained of. Proof of the filing of such notice with the board shall be filed with the court to which the appeal is being taken. The court in which notice of appeal is first filed shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the appeal.

In all such appeals the tax commissioner or all persons to whom the decision of the board appealed from is required by such section to be certified, other than the appellant, shall be made appellees. Unless waived, notice of the appeal shall be served upon all appellees by certified mail. The prosecuting attorney shall represent the county auditor in any such appeal in which the auditor is a party.

The board, upon written demand filed by an appellant, shall within thirty days after the filing of such demand file with the court to which the appeal is being taken a certified transcript of the record of the proceedings of the board pertaining to the decision complained of and the evidence considered by the board in making such decision.

If upon hearing and consideration of such record and evidence the court decides that the decision of the board appealed from is reasonable and lawful it shall affirm the same, but if the court decides that such decision of the board is unreasonable or unlawful, the court shall reverse and vacate the decision or modify it and enter final judgment in accordance with such modification.

The clerk of the court shall certify the judgment of the court to the board, which shall certify such judgment to such public officials or take such other action in connection therewith as is required to give effect to the decision. The “taxpayer” includes any person required to return any property for taxation.

Any party to the appeal shall have the right to appeal from the judgment of the court of appeals on questions of law, as in other cases.

Effective Date: 10-05-1987

As an alternative to the appeal provided for in section 5717.01 of the Revised Code, an appeal from the decision of a county board of revision may be taken directly to the court of common pleas of the county by the person in whose name the property is listed or sought to be listed for taxation. The appeal shall be taken by the filing of a notice of appeal with the court and with the board within thirty days after notice of the decision of the board is mailed as provided in section 5715.20 of the Revised Code. The county auditor and all parties to the proceeding before the board, other than the appellant filing the appeal in the court, shall be made appellees, and notice of the appeal shall be served upon them by certified mail unless waived. The prosecuting attorney shall represent the auditor in the appeal.

When the appeal has been perfected by the filing of notice of appeal as required by this section, and an appeal from the same decision of the county board of revision is filed under section 5717.01 of the Revised Code with the board of tax appeals, the forum in which the first notice of appeal is filed shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the appeal.

Within thirty days after notice of appeal to the court has been filed with the county board of revision, the board shall certify to the court a transcript of the record of the proceedings of said board pertaining to the original complaint and all evidence offered in connection with that complaint.

The court may hear the appeal on the record and the evidence thus submitted, or it may hear and consider additional evidence. It shall determine the taxable value of the property whose valuation or assessment for taxation by the county board of revision is complained of, or if the complaint and appeal is against a discriminatory valuation, shall determine a valuation that shall correct the discrimination, and the court shall determine the liability of the property for assessment for taxation, if that question is in issue, and shall certify its judgment to the auditor, who shall correct the tax list and duplicate as required by the judgment.

In correcting a discriminatory valuation, the court shall increase or decrease the value of the property whose valuation or assessment by the county board of revision is complained of by a per cent or amount that will cause the property to be listed and valued for taxation by an equal and uniform rule.

Any party to the appeal may appeal from the judgment of the court on the questions of law as in other cases.

Effective Date: 03-17-1989

In case of the institution of an appeal under sections 5717.01 to 5717.04 of the Revised Code, liability for taxes upon the property in question and for nonpayment of taxes within the time required by law shall relate back to the date of the original valuation or determination, and liability for taxes and for any penalty and interest for nonpayment thereof within the time required by law shall be based upon the valuation as finally determined.

Effective Date: 09-21-1982