Rob Hartley

Founder, AppealDesk · March 5, 2026

Property Tax Appeal Success Rates: Real Data by State and County (2026)

Q: How much does a successful appeal save?

The average successful appeal saves $1,000-$3,000 per year. Successful appeals typically reduce assessed value by 10-15%. That reduction stays in effect until the next reassessment cycle.

Updated March 2026 · 14 min read

The national average success rate for property tax appeals is 40-60%, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Yet only 5% of homeowners challenge their assessment. Homeowners who file with professional evidence see success rates of 65-85%.

Sources: National Taxpayers Union Foundation, Sanguine Strategic Advisors, county appraisal district records.

National Average

40-60%

success rate

Homeowners Filing

~5%

of all homeowners

Avg Reduction

10-15%

of assessed value

Avg Savings

$1-3K

per year

National Success Rate Data

The property tax appeal system is one of the most underutilized financial tools available to American homeowners. Here is what the data shows:

40-60% overall success rate for all property tax appeals filed nationally (source: National Taxpayers Union Foundation, Sanguine Strategic Advisors)
Only 5% of homeowners file appeals in any given assessment cycle, leaving billions of dollars in potential savings unclaimed (source: NTUF)
Average reduction: 10-15% of assessed value for successful appeals (source: Sanguine Strategic Advisors)
Average savings: $1,000-$3,000/year depending on property value and local tax rates
25% of US homes are overassessed at any given time, according to industry estimates from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation

The gap between the 25% overassessment rate and the 5% filing rate means roughly 1 in 5 overassessed homeowners never challenges their assessment. For a home overassessed by $30,000 in a state with a 1.5% effective tax rate, that is $450/year left on the table indefinitely.

Property Tax Appeal Success Rates by State

Success rates vary significantly by state due to differences in assessment practices, appeal processes, and market conditions. States with annual reassessment and accessible protest systems (like Texas) consistently show higher success rates than states with infrequent reassessment cycles.

State	Typical Success Rate	Avg Reduction	Notes	Guide
Alabama	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Alaska	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Arizona	40-55%	10-15%	County Assessor informal review, then State Board of Equalization.	Appeal guide
Arkansas	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
California	45-65%	10-20%	Prop 8 decline-in-value claims succeed at higher rates during market downturns.	Appeal guide
Colorado	40-55%	10-15%	Biennial reassessment. Gallagher Amendment affects residential ratios.	Appeal guide
Connecticut	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Delaware	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
District of Columbia	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Florida	40-55%	10-15%	Value Adjustment Board process. Higher success in rapidly changing markets.	Appeal guide
Georgia	45-55%	10-15%	Board of Equalization process. Strong comparable sales evidence is key.	Appeal guide
Hawaii	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Idaho	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Illinois	40-65%	10-15%	Cook County: 40% self-represented, 65-70% with professional representation.	Appeal guide
Indiana	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Iowa	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Kansas	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Kentucky	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Louisiana	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Maine	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Maryland	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Massachusetts	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Michigan	40-55%	10-15%	Board of Review meets annually in March. Prop A caps limit annual increases.	Appeal guide
Minnesota	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Mississippi	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Missouri	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Montana	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Nebraska	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Nevada	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
New Hampshire	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
New Jersey	40-50%	10-15%	Higher during reassessment years. Tax Court appeals have lower success than county boards.	Appeal guide
New Mexico	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
New York	~50%	5-15%	NYC has ~50% success rate for residential grievances.	Grievance guide
North Carolina	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
North Dakota	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Ohio	40-55%	10-15%	Board of Revision process. Triennial reassessment cycle creates appeal windows.	Appeal guide
Oklahoma	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Oregon	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Pennsylvania	40-55%	10-15%	County-by-county process varies significantly. Some counties reassess infrequently.	Appeal guide
Rhode Island	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
South Carolina	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
South Dakota	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Tennessee	45-55%	10-15%	County Board of Equalization. Reassessment every 4-6 years creates appeal windows.	Appeal guide
Texas	40-60%	10-15%	Higher in major counties with professional help. Hays County: 98.68%, Harris County: 89.2%.	Protest guide
Utah	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Vermont	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Virginia	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Washington	~55%	10-15%	Board of Equalization process. King County ~55% success rate.	Appeal guide
West Virginia	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Wisconsin	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide
Wyoming	40-60%	10-15%	National average range. Limited state-specific data available.	Appeal guide

Sources: NTUF, Sanguine Strategic Advisors, county appraisal district records, state tax court data. States without specific data shown at national average range (40-60%). Highlighted states have jurisdiction-specific data from county records.

What Affects Your Odds of Winning

Factors That Increase Success

Filing with comparable sales evidence

The single biggest factor. Three to five recent sales of similar nearby homes that sold for less than your assessed value give the review board concrete proof. “My taxes are too high” without data is the #1 reason appeals fail. Learn how to find comparable sales.

Professional evidence packets

Cook County data shows success rates jump from 40% (self-represented) to 65-70% (professional representation). The difference is evidence quality, not legal skill.

Factual errors on property record card

15-20% of successful appeals are clerical fixes: wrong square footage, extra bedrooms, incorrect lot size. These are nearly guaranteed wins because the error is objective.

Recent purchase below assessed value

If you bought your home for less than the county says it is worth, your purchase price is strong evidence of market value.

Market decline since assessment date

Assessments reflect a specific valuation date. If the market has dropped since then, comparable sales from after that date support a lower value.

Property condition issues

Foundation problems, roof damage, outdated systems, or functional obsolescence not reflected in the assessment. Photos and repair estimates strengthen these cases.

Factors That Decrease Success

−

Filing without evidence

“I just think my taxes are too high” is not evidence. Review boards need data: comparable sales, error documentation, or condition reports.

−

Recent purchase at or above assessed value

Your purchase price is the strongest indicator of market value. If you paid more than the assessment, the county has evidence supporting their number.

−

Rapidly appreciating market with supporting comps

If nearby similar homes are selling at or above your assessed value, the data supports the assessment, not your appeal.

−

Missing the deadline

Automatic denial, no exceptions. Check your state’s appeal deadline before doing anything else.

Success Rates by Service

Different appeal methods produce different outcomes. Here is what the available data shows:

Method / Service	Reported Success Rate	Cost	Notes
AppealDesk	98.68% (Hays TX), 62% (Cook IL)	$49 flat fee	County-specific rates. Evidence packet, you file.
Ownwell	86% reported	25-35% contingency	Full-service, 9 states. Self-reported aggregate.
O’Connor & Associates	Not publicly reported	Contingency (varies)	50+ years, $213M saved in 2025 (self-reported). 40+ states.
Texas Protax	77% reported	40% contingency + fees	Austin/Houston only. Self-reported aggregate.
DIY (with research)	~40-50%	Free	Homeowner finds own comps and files. Results vary with effort.
DIY (no evidence)	~30-40%	Free	Files appeal without comparable sales data. Lowest success rate.
With professional evidence	~60-80%	$49-$1,000+	Any method using professional comparable sales analysis.

Important caveat: Success rates depend more on your county’s assessment accuracy and the quality of your evidence than on which service you use. A 98% rate in Hays County, TX reflects a system where informal settlements are routine. A 62% rate in Cook County, IL reflects a more adversarial review board process. Both yield meaningful savings for homeowners who file with strong evidence. For a full comparison of services, see our best property tax appeal services guide.

How to Improve Your Odds

Check your property record card for errors first

Free and highest ROI. Wrong square footage, extra bedrooms, or incorrect lot size are nearly guaranteed wins. Request your property record card from your county assessor (usually available online) and compare every line to reality.

Find 3-5 comparable sales below your assessed value

This is the foundation of every successful appeal. Similar homes, nearby, sold recently, for less than what the county says yours is worth. See our guide on how to find comparable sales.

Understand your state’s assessment ratio

Not all states tax at 100% of market value. Tennessee taxes at 25%, Georgia at 40%. You need to compare apples to apples. See our assessment ratio by state guide.

File before the deadline

This seems obvious but it is the #1 procedural reason appeals fail. Deadlines are strict and non-negotiable. Find yours in our property tax appeal deadlines by state guide.

Use professional evidence if your potential savings justify the cost

The data is clear: professionally prepared evidence increases success rates from 30-40% to 60-80%. At $49 for a complete evidence packet, the math works for any property overassessed by more than a few thousand dollars.

Check If Your Property Is Overassessed

Enter your address for a free analysis. Takes 30 seconds. If the numbers support an appeal, we'll build your complete evidence packet for $49.

✓ All 50 states✓ Instant results✓ $49 flat fee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average property tax appeal success rate?

The national average success rate for property tax appeals is 40-60%, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. With professional evidence, success rates increase to 65-85%. The rate varies significantly by county and state.

Can my taxes go up if I appeal?

Almost never for residential properties. In most states, appeal boards can only lower your assessment or leave it unchanged. A handful of states technically permit increases, but this is extremely rare in practice. Review boards understand that raising values on appellants would discourage future filings.

Do I need a lawyer to appeal property taxes?

No. Most residential property tax appeals are designed for homeowners to navigate without legal representation. Review boards expect to see regular homeowners presenting comparable sales data. A lawyer may be worthwhile for commercial properties or properties valued over $1 million.

How much does a successful appeal save?

The average successful appeal saves $1,000-$3,000 per year, depending on your property value and local tax rate. Successful appeals typically reduce assessed value by 10-15%. That reduction stays in effect until the next reassessment cycle, which can be 1-5 years depending on your state.

Is it worth paying for a property tax appeal service?

Yes, if your estimated overassessment exceeds the service cost. Professional evidence increases success rates from 30-40% to 60-80%. At $49 for an evidence packet from AppealDesk, the math works for any property overassessed by more than a few thousand dollars. Contingency services (25-35% of savings) make sense if your expected savings are modest and you want zero effort.

What happens if my appeal is denied?

Your assessment stays the same. There is no penalty for filing. In most states you can try again during the next assessment cycle (annually in Texas, every 2-4 years in other states). You may also be able to escalate to a higher review board or state tax court.

How long does a property tax appeal take?

Most appeals are resolved within 2 weeks to 6 months depending on your state and county. Texas informal hearings happen 2-4 weeks after filing. Cook County, Illinois can take 6-12 months through the Board of Review. The filing itself takes minutes with a prepared evidence packet.

Sources: National Taxpayers Union Foundation, Sanguine Strategic Advisors (appeal outcomes research), county appraisal district records (Hays, Harris, Travis, Dallas, Cook counties), Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, industry data on professional vs. DIY success rates.