Property Tax Appeal (US)

If your assessment is higher than realistic market comps, you are paying for someone else's error. Most counties allow appeals, but the window is short and the evidence bar is specific.

Priority consideration: compare your assessed value to realistic market comps, not the story on the assessment letter.

Why it matters: many homeowners overpay for years because no one runs the numbers. An appeal is a low-effort lever when the gap is real.

Key takeaways

• Appeals are time-boxed; missing the window usually means waiting a year.
• You need clean evidence, not a hunch.
• Small percentage gaps can mean real dollars over time.

What a property tax appeal is

An appeal is a formal request to correct an assessed value using documented evidence. It is not a complaint letter. It is a short, evidence-based case filed within a narrow window.

A clean framework

1. Find real comps. Use recent sales that match your property type and location.

2. Estimate the gap. Compare assessed value to the comp range.

3. Check the window. Most counties have narrow appeal windows.

4. Decide the effort level. DIY if the gap is clear, or hire help if the stakes are high.

Decision checklist

• Does your assessed value materially exceed recent comparable sales?
• Is your local appeal window open right now?
• Do you have simple evidence to support the gap?
• Is the potential savings worth the time or a contingent fee?

Questions to ask your advisor or tax professional

• What is the appeal window and evidence standard in my county?
• If I hire support, what is the fee structure and expected timeline?
• Does the appeal affect next year's assessment as well?

Related tools

• Property Tax Appeal Calculator
• Cash Flow Tools

Next step

Use the Property Tax Appeal Calculator to estimate potential savings before you decide.

Compliance note

This guide is for planning and coordination only. It does not provide legal or tax advice. Confirm local rules with your county assessor or tax professional.