Property tax appeal · Washington
Appeal your property taxes in Washington.
In Washington, the county assessor sets your value and the county Board of Equalization hears your case. Boards act on evidence of market value as of the assessment date, and a licensed, USPAP-compliant appraisal is that evidence.
$5, credited toward your appraisal.
Washington
8 county pages below
- Values your home
- County assessor
- Hears your case
- County Board of Equalization
- Desktop appraisal
- $225
- $5 check credited
- Timing
- Confirmed with your order
Deadline
July 1, or within 30–60 days of when your value notice was mailed, depending on the county (King County allows 60). The deadline is on the notice.
Confirm your filing window and recipient requirements before ordering. Service availability and delivery depend on the property, evidence and appraiser. You remain responsible for filing on time.
How it works
How to appeal your property taxes in Washington.
- Step 1
Check your savings
Enter your address and pay $5. We check your Washington assessment against recent nearby sales.
- Step 2
Order the appraisal
A desktop appraisal valued as of your assessment date, with the $5 credited. Complex homes get one exact quote.
- Step 3
Show us your home
Walk through on your phone so the appraiser sees its condition. A desktop appraisal needs no visit.
- Step 4
File your appeal
A state-licensed WA appraiser signs it, with a cover letter and filing steps. You file by your deadline, and the county Board of Equalization hears your case.
The evidence
Boards act on value, not frustration.
However Washington labels the process, the case underneath is the same: show what your home was actually worth on the assessment date. A licensed, USPAP-compliant appraisal, with comparable sales, documented adjustments and a signed opinion of value, is that showing.
What the appraisal gives you
- Valued as of your assessment date, not today
- Comparable sales with adjustments and citations
- Signed by a state-licensed WA appraiser
- A phone walkthrough; a desktop appraisal needs no visit
Confirm before you file
- Your filing deadline, from your assessment notice
- Appraiser availability and delivery timing, before you order
The process
How Washington handles appeals.
Washington counties revalue annually and mail official value notices, mostly in spring and summer. You petition the county Board of Equalization by July 1 or within your county’s 30-to-60-day notice window, whichever is later. The board presumes the assessor is correct, so the burden is on you to show "clear, cogent and convincing" evidence of a lower market value as of January 1 — a standard that rewards professionally documented comparable sales over anecdotes.
Worth knowing in Washington
Washington’s evidence standard is stricter than most states on paper, which is exactly why a signed appraisal — rather than a printout of neighborhood listings — is the tool built for the job.
FAQ
Washington questions
When is the appeal deadline in Washington state?
July 1 of the assessment year, or 30–60 days after your value notice was mailed (county-specific — King County gives 60 days), whichever is later.
What evidence does a Washington Board of Equalization want?
Comparable sales close to the January 1 assessment date, adjusted for differences — the appraiser’s core work product. The burden of proof is on the homeowner, so documentation quality matters.
