Taxes always go up -- never down. Or so it seems. The overwhelming majority of Americans overlook the easiest way to lessen their tax burden -- filing a property tax appeal. According to the National Taxpayers Union, approximately 60% of taxable property in the United States is over-assessed. You may be one of the 6 out of 10 homeowners who are paying too much to the tax man. The good news is that 33% of petitions are successful.

Submitting an appeal is relatively easy. Simply contact your local county assessor's office, and they can put the relevant paperwork in your hands. Make sure to ask what formula they use for calculating property taxes in your area. Many counties use a percentage of market value, for example. That is an important thing to know because it means you could still be paying too much even if your assessment is already lower than market value. Also make sure to obtain a copy of your property card, and check it for errors. You want to make sure that the number of rooms and square footage are accurate, for example.

If you have a recent appraisal that supports your property's value as being less than the assessment, submit it with your appeal. Many counties will consider appraisals as long as they are recent (less than 90 days old, for example). You may also want to do some digging to find comparables in your neighborhood to use in support of your case. Ask your county assessor how to access the public records.

Submitting an appeal is generally a straightforward process, but realize that you may be required to attend and in-person hearing. The National Taxpayers Union publishes a booklet that you can purchase for $6.95 that will guide you through the process in a step-by-step manner.