Property owners across Guilford County are beginning to receive their 2026 reappraisal notices, and for many residents the new assessed values are significantly higher than in the previous cycle. Those values will be used to calculate property taxes once commissioners set the new tax rate later this year. If you believe your assessment doesn’t reflect true market value – or is not equitable compared to similar properties – you have the right to appeal, but the timeline is strict.
The first step is to carefully review your reappraisal notice. Make sure the county’s description of your property is accurate. Check square footage, number of bathrooms, lot size, condition and any improvements listed.
Simple factual errors can sometimes explain a higher value and can be corrected through documentation.
Property owners can also review recent comparable sales in their neighborhood to determine whether the county’s assessed value aligns with actual market transactions. The Guilford County Tax Department has an online tool that lets you do just that.
Guilford County allows property owners to begin with an informal review through the county Tax Department. During this stage, owners may submit comparable sales data, a recent independent appraisal, photographs, contractor estimates for needed repairs or documentation correcting property details.
Many valuation disputes are resolved at this level without the need for a formal hearing.
The key is evidence – not just your frustration over how much a tax bill may increase.
If the informal review doesn’t resolve the issue, property owners may file a formal appeal with the Guilford County Board of Equalization and Review.
Formal appeals must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 15, 2026. Appeals may be filed online through the county’s appeal portal or by submitting the required form by mail or in person to the Tax Office. The appeal should clearly state the owner’s opinion of value and include supporting documentation.
At that hearing, property owners may present evidence, answer questions and explain why they believe the assessed value is incorrect.
The board may uphold the value, reduce it – or, in rare cases, even increase it.
It’s important to understand that the appeal process focuses on whether the assessed value reflects fair market value as of the reappraisal date. The process doesn’t consider whether a tax bill “feels too high” or whether overall county spending is appropriate. Those are policy matters handled separately by the Board of Commissioners when setting the tax rate.
If a property owner disagrees with the decision of the Board of Equalization and Review, additional appeal options exist through the North Carolina Property Tax Commission, and ultimately through the court system in limited circumstances. Those steps involve additional procedures and deadlines.
The bottom line for property owners is simple: Review your notice promptly, gather evidence early and do not miss the May 15 deadline if you want to challenge your value. Once the appeal window closes, the assessed value generally stands for the entire revaluation cycle.
