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Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board

eFile Appeal Instructions

Important Information

  • PAAB's electronic filing system is used for filing appeals to PAAB. It cannot be used to file protests to your local board of review. 
  • Appeal filing periods vary by jurisdiction. You need to make sure your appeal is timely filed. PAAB cannot extend your deadline for filing an appeal.
  • To file an appeal, you must have registered for an account in PAAB's e-Filing system.  
  • Follow the instructions below and complete all of the steps described. If you do not receive an email confirmation after completing all of the steps, your appeal has not been submitted.
  • If you have any questions or problems with the instructions, contact us.

 

  • NOTICE: By using eFile, you agree to electronic service of filings. The system is designed to send email notifications of filings to your registered email address, but it is your responsibility to monitor filings in your appeal. You should periodically log in to the system to verify you haven't missed any filings due to email notifications being overlooked, deleted, or caught in spam.

Step 1: Getting Started 

If you haven't already, you must create an account. You will receive an email notification after your account has been approved. 

When your account is approved, log into PAAB's e-Filing system. After logging in, click New Appeal.

                     Image of efile site with New Appeal button circled in red


Step 2: Complete the Case Initiation Page

Property Information: Enter the requested information about the property you're appealing.            

           Image of property information form fields

  • Board of Review
    • Select the Board of Review from which you are appealing.
    • When the Board of Review is selected, the selected Board of Review will automatically be added as a party to the appeal.
  • Parcel Number
    • Enter the parcel number of the property you are appealing.
    • If you are appealing multiple parcels, you may combine the appeals and submit only one appeal if the parcels are contiguous and under the same ownership. If necessary, attach a list of the parcels being appealed. 
  • Property Address
    • Enter the street address, city, and zip code of the property being appealed.
  • Classification
    • Select the classification assigned to the property by the Board of Review or Assessor.
  • Property Type
    • From the drop-down menu, select the option that mostly closely describes the property being appealed. 

Select your Grounds for Appeal and enter your Short and Plain Statement. 

            Image of efile site where filer can select the grounds for appeal and enter a plain statement

  • Grounds on Appeal
    • Select the grounds you are appealing to PAAB. You may make the same claim(s) you made to the Board of Review and/or add new claims to PAAB. You may amend the appeal once as a matter of course within 20 days after it is filed, by adding or modifying the grounds on appeal. You may submit new evidence to support your claim(s) at a later date. 
  • Short and Plain Statement
    • Enter a short and plain statement explaining your claims on appeal. 
    • NOTE:  Depending on your browser settings, this page may eventually time-out.  When drafting your "short and plain statement," please keep this in mind. We suggest you either: 1) periodically click Save to Draft at the bottom of the page, 2) pre-type your statement in a Word document and paste it into the statement box, or 3) make sure your "short and plain statement" is just that, short and plain.  
  • Value you contend is correct
    • Enter the value you believe is the correct assessed value for the property

Request a hearing and review case participants. 

  Image of options for hearing: in person, telephone, video/online, no hearing         

  • Hearing Request
    • Indicate how you would like PAAB to consider your appeal.
      • In-person hearings are currently held in Des Moines.
      • Telephone hearings are conducted by toll-free conference call. 
      • Video/Online hearings are conducted using Google Meet. 
      • If you select "No Hearing/Written Consideration", PAAB will schedule your appeal for a written consideration. 
  • Case Participants
    • If you have a “Self-Represented” account, the Appeal will be automatically filed under your name, listing you as the Appellant. 
    • If you have an “Attorney” or “Representative” account, you will need to indicate the name of the Appellant on whose behalf you are filing the appeal by clicking Add Appellant. Fill out the information on the Add a Party page to add that party to the appeal. When done, click Next to return to the Case Initiation page.

When you have completed the Case Initiation page, click Next


Step 3: Review and Add Additional Documents to the Filing

       Image of efile site where a filer can review the appeal and add additional documents

  • Click View Generated Document  next to "Appeal from Board of Review Action" to review the appeal form generated based on the information you entered on the Case Initiation page. 
    • If you need to make changes, click Back.  
    • NOTICE: This is an opportunity to review the document you are about to file. Your appeal is not filed until you complete all of the steps listed below. 
  • Optional - Add documents for filing with your Appeal. 
    • ​Go to Document Type and select the type of document you wish to file from the list. 
    • Click Browse (or Choose File) to find the document on your computer.  NOTE: Document must be a PDF.
    • Click Add.
  • After reviewing the Generated Document and adding any documents, click Next

Step 4: Final Review and Submit the Filing

            Image of efile site where filer and review the documents to be filed, add instructions, and submit the filing

  • Read the Important Information About Your Appeal
  • To send the appeal to PAAB, click Submit the Filing.
  • A pop-up email message will appear that says: “Your submission is complete.  Click OK to file to PAAB."
  • If you clicked OK, your filing will be submitted to PAAB and a message “Your Filing has been submitted” will appear.

Step 5: Check Your Email

  • After clicking Submit the Filing, check your email. You should find an email indicating your appeal has been received. 
    • NOTICE: If you do not receive this email, your appeal has not been submitted. 
    • You will receive another email called a Notice of Electronic Filing after PAAB has reviewed and approved your filing. 
  • IMPORTANT: If you use the eFile system to file your appeal, you consent to electronic service of filings. While the system is designed to send email notifications of filings to your registered email address, it is your responsibility to monitor filings in your appeal. Due the possibility of an email notification being overlooked, deleted, or caught in spam, PAAB suggests you periodically log in to the system to verify you haven't missed any filings.