HAMPTON ASSESSOR’S OFFICE

WELCOME TO THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Hampton's 2011 USPAP Manual
^{This file is 468 pages long and can require some time to download.}

This website now features access to Hampton’s online GIS Manager; this site allows Hampton to share its parcel data with property owners, real estate professionals and other members of the community to query, browse, report and print maps including a full list of overlay maps, property information and abutter lists from their own computers. 

 Also located on this page is a link to Hampton’s assessing data via Vision Appraisal’s on line data base. This link is also located within the tabs located above and will allow you to view the assessing data of all properties located within the Town.  Just a reminder that the on line data base is updated monthly, so you may want to verify any recent sale or ownership information with the assessing office as our information is the official and the most current data available.

 On this website you can find valuable information, as well as get answers to some frequently asked questions.  You can also download application forms relating to our available exemptions and credits on the FORMS tab located at the top of this page.

The Assessor’s office is here to assist the public with inquiries into our public records relating to property record cards, tax maps, sales data, ownership information, abutter lists, and provide specialized reports and various other informational services.

The Hampton Assessing Department is responsible for discovering, identifying, and valuing all real estate within the town boundaries. The Assessor’s primary responsibility is to estimate the fair market value of your property at least once within every five year certification cycle, as well as, working to maintain assessment equity between property classes during the interim years so that you and other taxpayers may contribute your fair share of support for the community services you receive.  For these services to continue, other agencies, as well as the town, must levy taxes.  Here again, state laws define the powers of these taxing agencies and the kinds of properties that are exempt from taxes, such as schools, churches and charitable organizations. 

Market value defined:  The most probable sale price of a property in terms of money in a competitive and open market, assuming the buyer and seller are acting prudently and knowledgeably, allowing sufficient time for the sale, and assuming that the transaction is not affected by undue pressures. (Property Appraisal and Assessments Administration, IAAO, Copyright 1990)

In 2011 Hampton completed a revaluation of all properties which resulted in the implementation of updated assessments that now reflect a valuation date as of April 1, 2011. The Town of Hampton’s “Equalization Ratio” or median assessment to sales ratio for tax year 2011 has now been finalized indicating a median ratio of 96.5%.

The 2011 tax rate has also been set at $17.93 and these (2) two numbers are utilized together to determine our tax rate if equalized at 100% of market value. (a/k/a effective tax rate). 

Hampton has two additional tax rates that raise money to fund the Hampton Beach Village District.  Those rates for 2011 are $18.63 for commercial and rental properties in the Precinct, and $18.08 for single family/non- rentals in the Precinct (currently property owners are required to apply yearly for the “Precinct Exemption”). 

Hampton’s 2011 valuation as stated on the MS1 report submitted to the Department of Revenue was $2,920,821,200, with $169,906,700 of exempt property values, and $34,550,000 in elderly, blind and disabled valuation exemptions.  This left a taxable value for 2011 of $2,716,364,500. 

 In 2011 the Net Tax Amount committed to the Tax Collector was $48,292,533.  This is for property taxes only and includes monies for the Town, Schools and County Budgets.  This number is determined by the State after they compile all the figures for expenditures that have been approved by the appropriate bodies to be raised, less revenues, plus war service credits, and then dividing that into the total taxable value of the Town. 

The tax rate is calculated by dividing the amount of tax dollars needed by the total assessed value of all taxable property (less total exemptions) in the Town. (Tax Rate = Levy ÷ Total Taxable Value)

Once the tax rate has been set, the assessed value of your property is used to determine your portion of the tax levy.  In other words, multiplying the tax rate by the assessed value of your property equals your share of the taxes or your tax bill.  The tax rate is expressed in terms of dollars per thousand or “mill rate”.

The taxation process requires the cooperation of several parts of the Town government.  The Assessor estimates the value of your property.  The town’s people vote to determine the Town services and School budget, the County budget is set by the County Delegation, the Hampton Beach Village District budget is set by their voters.  Thereby, using the above formula, the tax rate is calculated to generate the funds for those services. 

How often does the Town update property values?

Under the requirements of RSA 75:8-a, and RSA 75:1, we must update property values at least once every 5 years. 

The Assessing office has also begun the task of completing a 5 year cyclical inspection program. This program will allow the assessing staff to visit each and every property over the next five years to ensure that both the physical and factual data is accurate. This will help promote fair and equitable assessments for everyone which is our ultimate goal.

In addition, each year, between revaluation cycles, the Assessor’s Office has to comply with the requirements of RSA 75:8 – Revised Inventory.  This requires the assessing office to annually update assessments and in accordance with State assessing guidelines,

“the Selectmen shall adjust assessments to reflect changes so that all assessments are reasonably proportional within the municipality”. 

Assessors and Selectmen shall consider adjusting assessments for any properties that:

      a. They know or believe to have had a material physical change;

      b. Changed ownership;

      c. Have undergone zoning changes;

      d. Have undergone subdivision, boundary line adjustments, or mergers;

      e. Have undergone other changes affecting value.

It’s the Assessor’s job to discover, list and estimate value of all properties within the jurisdiction of the Town.  To insure that all properties are treated uniformly, the Assessor’s procedures must conform to State laws dealing with property taxation.  Furthermore, commonly accepted appraisal and accounting practices must be used.

a. That the level of assessments and uniformity of assessments are within the acceptable ranges as recommended by the Assessing Standards Board;

b. That assessment practices substantially comply with application statutes and rules;

c. That the exemption and credit procedures substantially comply with applicable statutes and rules;

d. That assessments are based on reasonably accurate data;

e. That assessments of various types of properties are reasonably proportional to other types of property within the municipality