On Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, the Pierce County Council passed Ordinance No. O2024-572 to expand the time property owners have to request a refund for manifest errors in property tax assessments – such as an incorrect square footage listing or an error in the number of rooms – moving it from three to five year

The change brings Pierce County’s property tax rules in line with state law and ensures that homeowners and businesses aren’t unfairly charged due to clerical mistakes. While the total financial impact is small compared to the county’s overall tax base, it could mean an additional $600,000 in annual refunds for those affected.

Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Marty Campbell supported the ordinance, and it moved out of the Council’s Rules and Operations Committee with a Do Pass recommendation on Monday, Jan. 27.

The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Office is responsible for determining the value of all taxable property in the county, which affects how much property tax each owner owes. However, mistakes happen—sometimes, a property is listed with the wrong size, number of structures, or other attributes that lead to an incorrect tax bill.

Over the past five years, an average of 227 property owners per year have successfully appealed manifest errors in Pierce County. These errors have resulted in an average of $28.2 million annually in corrected property values, translating to approximately $300,000 annually in tax refunds.

The ordinance now heads to Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello for signature.