The tax values for Guilford County properties came out about a month ago, and while many homeowners were stunned by the Tax Department’s new appraisals – in some cases jumping as much as two-and-a-half times higher than in the 2022 revaluation – the early appeal process appears to be moving along relatively smoothly.

So far, as of Tuesday, March 17, there have been just under 5,000 residential property owners who’ve called or written in to challenge their values.

While normally people like to see their property values increase, when it comes to tax values, the opposite is true – the lower the better, since property taxes are based on that number.

According to Guilford County Tax Director Ben Chavis, those 4,969 appeals represent about 2.6 percent of residential properties in the county, which he said is a very reasonable response rate for a revaluation of this size.

Data from the county also shows that the vast majority of appeals are coming directly from homeowners themselves. Of the total appeals filed so far, 4,969 were submitted by citizens, compared to just 132 filed by staff and 11 by agents.

The timing of those appeals also tells a story.

Appeals spiked immediately after notices were mailed out in mid-February, with daily totals approaching 600 at their peak. After that initial surge, the number of daily appeals dropped off and has generally settled into a steadier pattern, typically ranging between about 150 and 250 per day through early and mid-March.

Chavis said many property owners opened their notices over the first weekend after they arrived and quickly began reaching out to the county.

Right now, those appeals are being handled through the Tax Department’s informal review process, which allows staff to correct errors and adjust values without the need for a formal hearing.

That window will begin to close soon.

Once the Board of Equalization and Review takes over on April 14, the Tax Department loses its ability to conduct these more informal reappraisals. At that point, the process becomes more formal, hearings must be scheduled and cases often take longer to resolve.

“It gets more bogged down,” Chavis said.

For that reason, county officials prefer to resolve as many cases as possible before they reach the board.

Some property owners who filed early are already seeing results.

“Some responses are going out fast,” Chavis said, noting that turnaround times can vary.

The data also shows how those appeals are being submitted. Among staff-filed appeals, most are coming in by mail, followed by hand delivery, with only a small number submitted by telephone or email.

County officials emphasize that successful appeals are based on evidence – not just frustration.

The department and the Board of Equalization and Review are looking for facts, not simply a general feeling that a value is too high.

For example, errors in the county’s records can make a difference: If the county lists three bathrooms when a home only has two, that can affect the valuation. Mistakes in square footage, lot size or the year the home was built can also be corrected.

Recent professional appraisals can serve as strong evidence, although Chavis said he doesn’t want homeowners to feel like they need to go out and pay for one just to file an appeal.

Documentation of a home’s condition can also help.

“If it was built in 1955 and still has the original wallpaper – things like that might bring the value down,” Chavis said. “Pictures are good.”

Structural or condition issues – such as leaks, cracks or foundation problems – can also support a lower value.

He added that simply saying a value “seems too high” doesn’t carry much weight in this process.

If an issue isn’t resolved during the informal stage, property owners can file a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization and Review.

At that stage, the process becomes more detailed, with property owners presenting evidence and answering questions. The board can uphold a value, reduce it – or, in rare cases, increase it.

The key point throughout the process remains the same: The appeal is about whether the assessed value reflects fair market value – not whether the resulting tax bill feels too high.

For property owners considering an appeal, the advice is simple – review your notice carefully, gather solid evidence early and don’t miss the deadl

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