How do I appeal property taxes in Hillsborough County?

The Hillsborough County process, step by step

1. 1Get your TRIM notice from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, mailed in August (approximately Aug 14, 2026 for 2026), showing assessed value, exemptions, and proposed millage.
2. 2File your Form DR-486 petition with the Hillsborough County Value Adjustment Board within 25 days of the mailing date (hillsclerk.com). The residential fee is $15, and the 2026 deadline lands around Sept 8, 2026.
3. 3Pull comparables from the HCPAFL site (hcpafl.org): similar homes assessed lower than yours, or that sold for less than your assessed value. Three to seven same-area comparables adjusted for size and condition is the standard winning package.
4. 4Present to a special magistrate, a short, informal hearing. The magistrate recommends a value and the board ratifies. Homeowners routinely appear without attorneys.
5. 5Verify your exemptions: the homestead exemption (up to $50,000 off assessed value) and the 3% Save Our Homes cap. If you bought recently, the cap reset at purchase and your first assessments deserve real scrutiny.

The Tampa-area angle

Tampa's post-pandemic in-migration pushed values up fast and unevenly across Hillsborough, from South Tampa to Brandon to the newer developments out east, which is precisely the condition that produces comparable-assessment gaps a VAB case turns on. Recent buyers (cap reset at purchase), rentals and second homes (10% cap only), and new construction (first-year assessments set from scratch) are the groups that most often have a case.

Statewide mechanics live in how to appeal in Florida; the DR-486 walkthrough covers the form itself. The free check compares your assessment to similar Hillsborough homes from the state roll in about 30 seconds.