Assessor FAQs

The value of property is determined by many factors. Your assessment can increase because of improving neighborhoods, home sales in your neighborhood, and inflation. It is the Assessor’s job to determine what your property would be worth if it sold in today’s market.

Market values vary between neighborhoods. Location plays an important role in determining market values in a neighborhood. Several location factors determine whether a purchaser would pay more for a home in one neighborhood verses another. For example, distance from schools and commercial areas, quality and condition of surrounding properties, neighborhood amenities are things that make similar homes sell for different prices. The real estate market helps assessors determine values for similar homes in different neighborhoods.

The dollar amount of your tax bill does not necessarily mean that your assessment is incorrect. The property taxes you pay are determined by the tax rate, which is determined by the taxing bodies listed on your tax bill. In order to complain about the amount of taxes you are paying, you need to attend the meetings of the taxing bodies. Taxpayers also need to vote on any referendums that might increase the tax bill. If your property is assessed at 1/3 of its market value, the assessor is doing their job.

Most normal maintenance will not raise the assessment of the property. The assessor won’t review your home until the next quadrennial year. If the condition of the home is changed because you painted the home, the assessment could increase in the quadrennial year. If you get a permit to add something to the property, the Assessor must view and value the improvement. You would then be eligible for a Home Improvement Exemption.

If you don’t agree with your assessment, you should first contact the Assessor’s Office to find out how your assessment was determined. We will let you explain why you feel your assessment is wrong. Someone from the office may need to view your home to determine the correct value. If you still don’t agree with your assessment you would file a complaint with the Knox County Board of Review.

You must complete an appeal form to file a complaint with the Board of Review. The appeal form requires you to list three comparable properties with assessments less than yours, three similar properties that sold for less the prior year or you can submit an appraisal. The Board of Review will hold a hearing with you and the assessor to determine the correct assessment. Appeal forms are available at the Assessor's office or you can go here for printable forms.

If you don’t agree with the Board of Reviews decision, you can file a complaint with the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB). The complaint forms are available at the Assessor’s office, the Chief County Assessment Office or the PTAB website.  The Property Tax Appeal Board will hold a hearing to determine the correct value.

If the assessment of the two houses is the same, the neighbor must have more exemptions. For more information about exemptions, see Homestead Exemptions Information on the left navigation bar.

When tax bills are mailed out, assessments have already been finalized for that tax year. You should contact the Assessor’s office to find out about the current year's assessment.