Tennessee Senate Bill SB0949

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, relative to correction of property tax assessments.

Summary

SB0949 extends the time period for correcting property tax assessments in Tennessee. Under current law, a correction had to be requested by the taxpayer or initiated by the assessor by March 1 no later than the second year after the tax year being corrected. The bill changes that deadline to March 1 no later than the tenth year following the tax year for which the correction is sought. The measure applies to assessments for the 2016 tax year and later, and it takes effect immediately upon becoming law. In practical terms, it gives taxpayers and assessors a much longer window to identify and fix errors in property tax assessments, which could affect tax bills, refunds, and local property tax records.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Section 67-5-509(d), by replacing the existing two-year correction limit with a ten-year limit. This expands the authority of taxpayers and assessors to seek or initiate assessment corrections for a much longer period, potentially increasing administrative review and retroactive adjustments in property tax administration. It affects property owners, county assessors, and local tax collection systems by broadening the timeframe for correcting assessment errors.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears technical and administrative in nature, aimed at improving the ability to correct assessment mistakes rather than changing tax rates or creating new taxes. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the measure may have been viewed as a routine procedural fix.

Contention

The main policy issue is the length of the correction window. Supporters would likely favor the expanded ten-year period as a way to remedy assessment errors that may not be discovered quickly, while potential opponents could be concerned about the administrative burden, uncertainty in tax records, and the possibility of retroactive changes reaching far back in time. Because no hearing transcripts are available, specific positions by legislators, assessors, or taxpayer advocates cannot be identified from the record provided.