Assessment Practices Self-Evaluation Guide
About the Guide
The guide provides an opportunity for a structured review of assessment operations. It focuses on how tasks are carried out, that is, on procedures, not specifically on results. Several chapters have been developed to cover the major components of the property tax system. Each chapter presents a series of questions designed to evaluate the effectiveness of each area covered in that chapter. Suggestions for improving the quality of property taxation are included.
This guide incorporates accepted standards of assessment practice in the publications and standards of IAAO (see the Bibliography at the end of the guide for more information). It also reflects the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
This guide performs three separate and distinct tasks. First, it is designed for use by individuals who want to evaluate procedures in their assessment office and who are seeking to either continually improve or evaluate their procedures against a standard of best practices in assessment administration.
Second, this guide can be used by individuals seeking professional recognition of their efforts by obtaining the AAS designation. Completing this guide helps candidates’ jurisdictions evaluate practices and, at the same time, helps candidates demonstrate their breadth of knowledge gained through education, peer contact, conference attendance, and a variety of other resources about what could, should, and might be done within the assessment profession to provide a high-quality product to the customer, the taxpayer.
Third, this guide is designed for use by jurisdictions seeking the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration. This certificate is granted by IAAO in recognition of organizations that pursue the best practices in assessment. Jurisdictions seeking this certificate complete the requirements in the Excellence Checklist following each question in the text. The jurisdiction then submits an application and the materials requested, answering any questions and providing supporting documentation. Its submission is subject to peer review, and its practices are evaluated. Those jurisdictions that have demonstrated the very best of the assessment profession are awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration by IAAO.
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The guide is available in print and as an IAAO E-book.