Board of Equalization

Members

The Yakima County Board of Equalization, consisting of 5 citizen volunteers, provides taxpayers with the opportunity to appeal property assessments. The current Board is made up of 5 members, who serve 3-year terms. Members should have some knowledge of property values, and may not be an elected official or employed by an elected official.

  • Arvel Hale
    • 12/31/2025
  • Jerry Mellen
    •  12/31/2024
  • Kristi Wilbert
    • 12/31/2025
  • Guillermo Mattox
    • 12/31/2025
  • Marilyn Poukkula
    • 12/31/2025

Responsibilities

Yakima County Board of Equalization is an independent board of Commissioner Appointed members created to hear property tax appeals on Assessor's determination of assessed valuations and to equalize property. The Board was established by RCW 84.48 and is a quasi-judicial body governed by the Washington State Department of Revenue.


Appealing Your Property Assessment to the County Board of Equalization: READ THIS FIRST


Appeal Forms

Board of Equalization appeal forms may be obtained from the Clerk of the Board.
Request a form be mail by contacting the Clerk at 509-574-1500. Voicemail is available 24/7. Leave your name, telephone number, and mailing address, or request by email for forms to be mailed. Forms will be mailed the next business day. In addition, the form is available for download:


Filing Deadline

Appeals must be filed with the Board of Equalization within 60 days of the postmarked date of the Assessor's Notice of Value.


For additional information, please see the Washington State Department of Revenue Property Tax Information.


Mail completed forms and information to:

Board of Equalization

128 N 2nd Street, Room 232

Yakima, WA 98901


Hearing address:

Yakima County Courthouse

128 N. 2nd Street, Room B33 or Zoom

Yakima, WA 98901


If you feel the assessment of your property is not correct you may appeal the value of your property to the Board of Equalization.


Income & Expense Information


If your appeal is on a Commercial or Industrial property, you must submit at least 3 years of income and expense information along with your appeal. Both the Board of Equalization and the Assessor's Office realize the sensitivity of this information. Both RCW 84.08.210 and 84.40.020 protect the privacy of this information from disclosure or public inspection. You can be assured that this information will be held in strict confidence.


Property Tax Rates Differ


The amount of property tax due on comparable properties may be different throughout a county. Such differences can be due to multiple factors:

  • The various combinations of taxing districts in different areas of the county
  • The amount of the budget for each taxing district
  • The presence of voter-approved special levies and bonds
  • Possible exemptions on the properties