How are My Property Taxes Assessed, and How Often Will My Taxes Change?

UPDATED: Jul 13, 2023Fact Checked

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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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UPDATED: Jul 13, 2023

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UPDATED: Jul 13, 2023Fact Checked

The frequency in which property value is assessed for tax purposes will vary, depending on your state or district. In the majority of states, property value is assessed for property tax purposes every five to seven years. However, some states only assess the value of the home upon the sale or refinancing of the property, while other states assess property values every year.

How Property Value is Determined


When property is assessed, a government assessor, hired either by the county or state, will come out to physically inspect your home to determine the measure of its worth. After the assessor acquires a number of factors about your property, they will usually determine the value of your home through a formula based on the total replacement cost, the market value, and the rental value of your home. To calculate the replacement cost of your home, the assessor will inspect the building materials and take your maintenance costs into consideration. If you are making income on your home, they will also take this into consideration when determining the value. To find the market value of your home, the assessor will compare your home to similar homes in the area that have recently sold.  Aside from the physical condition of your home, the market value of your home will turn heavily on real estate markets trends. If your home is an architecturally popular style the year that it is assessed, the market value of your home may be inflated. On the other hand, in a depressed market, the market value of your home may seem extraordinarily low.

Property Taxes are Determined by the Property Value


The assessment of your property’s value is used to find your required annual property taxes. If you are in a majority state, in which the value of your property is only assessed every five to seven years, the determined tax rate will stay consistent during this time period. Your determined tax rate is found through the states “assessment rate” and “mill levy.” Once your property value is found, the county or state will apply the assessment rate. This rate varies widely among districts. For example, if the value of your home is $300,000, and your states assessment rate is 40%, then your taxable property value is $120,000. The state property tax percentage, or “mill levy” is then applied to the taxable property value to determine your annual property taxes. This means that if the state tax percentage is 2%, and your taxable property value is $120,000, your annual property taxes will be $2400.

Case Studies: Property Tax Assessments and Changes

Case Study 1: The Annual Assessment Surprise

In the state of California, property values are assessed every year for tax purposes. John, a homeowner in San Francisco, experienced an unexpected increase in his property taxes. The assessor determined that the market value of his home had skyrocketed due to high demand in the area. Consequently, John’s property taxes increased significantly, putting a strain on his finances. He had to reassess his budget to accommodate the higher tax burden.

Case Study 2: The Five-Year Evaluation

In Illinois, property value assessments occur every five years. Sarah, a homeowner in Chicago, was initially relieved when her property taxes remained stable for several years. However, during the latest assessment, the assessor discovered that property values in her neighborhood had significantly increased. As a result, Sarah’s property taxes rose steeply, catching her off guard. She had to adjust her financial plans to account for the unexpected increase.

Case Study 3: The Sale-triggered Assessment

Unlike other states, in Nevada, property values are assessed only when the property is sold or refinanced. Mark, a homeowner in Las Vegas, decided to sell his home after living in it for ten years. During the sale process, the assessor determined the market value of his property, which had appreciated considerably since he first purchased it. As a consequence, Mark experienced a sudden spike in property taxes, impacting the overall profitability of the sale.

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

Insurance Lawyer

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

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