International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) maintains technical standards that reflect the official position of IAAO on various topics related to property tax administration, property tax policy, and valuation of property including mass appraisal and related disciplines. These standards are adopted by the IAAO Executive Board.IAAO assessment standards represent a consensus in the assessing profession. The objective of the IAAO standards is to provide a systematic means by which assessing officers can improve and standardize the operation of their offices. The IAAO standards are advisory in nature and the use of, or compliance with, these standards is purely voluntary. If any portion of these standards is found to be in conflict with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or state laws, USPAP and state laws shall govern.IAAO technical standards are intended to guide property tax assessment officials, tax policy analysts, and administrators. Similar issues arise in any nation's property tax systems. IAAO standards can provide guidance internationally. However, certain sections of these standards apply primarily to the United States and Canada, where the power to tax property is assigned to state, provincial, or territorial governments.