Assessment
***ATTENTION: PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE BEFORE MAKING CHANGES TO ANY CLEAN AND GREEN PROPERTIES. IT IS BETTER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE DONE TO AVOID VIOLATIONS THAT MAY BE COSTLY. IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT A NOTICE OF CONVEYANCE FORM BE FILED. IT IS THE LANDOWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PROACTIVE AND INFORMED. THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.***
The Susquehanna County Assessment Office, under the supervision of the Susquehanna County Board of Commissioners, shall employ the three universal approaches to value in arriving at the Fair Market Value of all land, improvements and minerals within the county. This course of action will provide for a uniform and equalized method of assessment throughout the county.
Susquehanna County has more than 29,000 parcels of real estate. It is the duty of the Assessment Office to value all parcels uniformly and fairly for real estate tax purposes. The last countywide reassessment was completed in 1993. Evaluating all property in Susquehanna County at 1993 market values satisfies uniformity, mandated by law.
While property is appraised at 1993 market values, it is taxed at its assessed value, which now is 50 percent of the 1993 market value. It is important to remember, especially when filing an appeal; the duty of the assessment office is to determine property value. Under law, the assessment office cannot and does not raise or lower property taxes.
Lookup Your Property Information Online
Susquehanna County residents can review assessment information on their property. If you received a statement of Real Estate Taxes bill through the mail, locate your Control Number and Password on your tax bill then click here.
Office Overview
To be as fair and equitable in valuing real estate for ad valorem tax purposes to all residents and property owners within this county. To provide accurate technical and professional assistance to anyone requesting information pertaining to the functions and duties of this office and to maintain a good work ethic in performing the responsibilities of this office.
Services Provided
- Assess real estate for property taxation using Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal software utilized by licensed, state certified real-estate evaluators (CPE).
- Keeps all mailing addresses up-to-date so assessment information and tax notices are delivered in a timely manner.
- Assist in people finding information on property such as assessed values, deed book/page reference numbers, tax parcel numbers and tax control numbers, using the assessed value estimating property taxes based upon tax rates (millage) at the time, providing building information such as year built, square footage, lot size or acreage.
- Maintain and provide updated Tax Parcel Maps that show property boundaries, roads and municipal boundaries. These maps are on either hard-copy or electronic format (PDF files).
- Maintain historical records of property ownership and assessments.
- Manage and administer the Clean-and-Green program for property owners.
- Administer the approval/denial of Homestead/Farmstead applications and prepare reports to be distributed to the taxing authority.
- Transfers ownership of property based upon recorded deeds, distributions and agreements and updates assessment records accordingly.
- Assist property owners understanding of their real-estate taxes and the assessment appeal process.
- Produce property record cards in either hard-copy form or can be scanned and sent via e-mail.
- Provide data information about property, owner information and tax maps.
Office Staff & Professional Standings
Rhonda Goldsmith, Assessment Clerk
Patricia Leach, Senior Field Appraiser/Deputy Director, C.P.E
Emily McHale, Field Assessor, C.P.E
Amber Jacobson Clean and Green Specialist
The Assessment Office appraisers are licensed as Certified Pennsylvania Evaluators (C.P.E.). To obtain this license, each person must attend more than 90 hours of training in real estate valuation and pass a comprehensive test administered by the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers. After the license is granted, each person must complete bi-annually at least 28 hours of continuing education in real estate with at least six hours in Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal and Assessment Law. The person is licensed to perform ad-valorem (at value) appraisals for real estate taxation.
Contact Information
Assessment
County Courthouse
31 Lake Avenue (PO Box 218)
Montrose, PA 18801
Telephone: (570) 278-4600, Ext. 4001
Fax: (570) 278-1302
Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Sarah Seamans, C.P.E., Director of Assessment and Chief Assessor
Quick Information
Related Links
Assessors’ Association of Pennsylvania (AAP)
Pennsylvania State Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Susquehanna County Webmap
Municipality Information
Lookup Property Information Online