Is It Worth It to Appeal Property Taxes?

The question isn't really whether appealing is worth it. It's whether you can afford not to appeal if your home is overassessed. Let's break down the math.

The Math Behind Property Tax Appeals

For a $400,000 home with a 1.5% tax rate, even a modest 5% assessment reduction saves you $300 per year. Over the typical six-year reassessment cycle, that's $1,800 in savings.

If you use AppealDesk's $49 evidence packet, your ROI is 612% in the first year alone. That's better than any investment you'll find.

And here's the kicker: those savings compound. You're not just saving $300 once—you're saving it every year until the next reassessment. For many homeowners, a successful appeal means $1,800 to $6,600 in total savings over six years.

When Is Appealing Worth It?

A property tax appeal is worth pursuing if any of these apply to your home:

• Your assessed value increased significantly — If your assessment jumped more than 5% year-over-year, it's likely inflated.
• Comparable homes are assessed lower — If similar homes in your neighborhood have lower assessed values, you're being overcharged.
• Your home has damage or needed repairs — Assessors don't always account for deferred maintenance, foundation issues, or roof damage.
• You bought recently for less than the assessed value — Your purchase price is strong evidence the assessment is too high.
• Market conditions changed — If home values in your area declined but your assessment didn't, you have grounds to appeal.

Even if your assessment seems reasonable, it's worth running the numbers. A 3% reduction might not sound like much, but on a $400,000 home, that's $180-240 per year depending on your tax rate.

Note: Some states have annual assessment caps that limit how much your property taxes can increase year-over-year. For example, Texas caps homestead increases at 10% annually, while California's Proposition 13 limits increases to 2% per year. Even with these caps, appealing is still worthwhile because a lower assessment today means a lower base for future capped increases.

The Downside Risk Is Minimal

In most states, your assessment cannot increase as a result of your appeal. The worst-case scenario is that your appeal is denied and your assessment stays the same. You're not penalized for trying.

Compare that to the alternative: paying hundreds or thousands of dollars per year in unnecessary property taxes because you didn't challenge an inflated assessment.

This is why so many homeowners are turning to services like AppealDesk. For $49, you get a complete evidence packet with comparable sales analysis, county-specific filing instructions, and a pre-written cover letter—everything you need to file a strong appeal without hiring an expensive attorney.

What About Contingency Services?

Some companies charge 25-35% of your first-year savings as a fee. For a $1,100 annual reduction, that's $275-385 out of your pocket. And they take that cut every time you win, year after year if they file on your behalf.

With a flat-fee service, you pay once and keep 100% of the savings—$1,100 this year, $1,100 next year, and so on. The difference adds up fast.

For a complete breakdown of all appeal costs and options, see our guide on how much a property tax appeal costs. If you're wondering whether contingency-based protest companies make financial sense, read our analysis on whether property tax protest companies are worth it.

Bottom Line: It's Almost Always Worth It

Unless your home is assessed at or below market value, appealing is worth the effort. The 89% success rate speaks for itself—most homeowners who appeal win, and the savings are substantial.

If you're on the fence, ask yourself this: would you leave $1,100 sitting on the table? Because that's exactly what you're doing if you don't appeal an inflated assessment.