What is a property tax appeal?

A property tax appeal (also called a protest in Texas, or a VAB petition in Florida) is a formal process where you challenge your county appraiser's assessed value of your home. You file with the county Appraisal Review Board (Texas) or Value Adjustment Board (Florida), present comparable-sales evidence that your home is overvalued, and the board issues a ruling.

When is the Florida property tax appeal deadline?

Florida property owners have 25 days from the date the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice is mailed to file a VAB petition (Form DR-486). TRIM notices typically mail mid-August, putting the petition deadline in early-to-mid September. The deadline varies by county and is printed on the TRIM notice itself.

When is the Texas property tax appeal deadline?

In Texas, the deadline to file a property tax protest is May 15 each year (or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later). The 2026 deadline has passed; the next protest window is April-May 2027.

How much can I save by appealing my property taxes?

Homeowners who appeal save an average of $774 per year in Texas and several hundred to several thousand dollars per year in Florida (Save Our Homes locks in the savings for 10+ years). Success rates range from 80-91% when you bring 3-5 comparable sales as evidence.

What's the difference between AppealMyTax and Ownwell?

AppealMyTax charges a flat $49 for a complete personalized appeal packet you file yourself, or $199-$249 for our done-for-you filing service. Ownwell charges a 25-35% contingency on whatever you save — meaning a $2,000 reduction costs you $500-$700 every year forever. We keep 100% of your savings.

What percent of homes in ZIP 33801 are overassessed?

27.5% of homes in Lakeland ZIP 33801 (2,621 of 9,543 parcels) are assessed more than 10% above the typical per-square-foot value for the neighborhood, based on the FL DOR 2025 Final NAL roll.

How do I appeal my property taxes in Lakeland ZIP 33801?

File Form DR-486 with the Polk County Value Adjustment Board within 25 days of your TRIM notice (typically mid-August). The $15 filing fee is paid to the Clerk of Court. Strong petitions include 3-5 comparable sales from your immediate area.

Polk County · Lakeland

ZIP 33801 property tax overassessment report

27.5% of homes in Lakeland ZIP 33801 (2,621 of 9,543 parcels) are assessed more than 10% above what comparable-size homes in the same ZIP typically pay per square foot. Combined annual overpayment: $1,308,331.

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★ First 100 FL packets at $49 (62 left, then $79 starting June 1) · 30-day refund · Ownwell takes 25-35%

9,543

Homes in ZIP

2,621

Flagged as overassessed

27.5%

$58,043

Avg overage / home

$196,343

Typical value

~$113/sqft

Your Polk County deadline

TRIM mailing: Aug 14, 2026 · VAB petition due: Sept 8, 2026

Polk filing guide →

Top 25 most overassessed homes in 33801

Addresses anonymized. Pulled directly from the FL DOR 2025 Final NAL roll. Each home pays significantly more than what a comparable-size home in this ZIP typically pays.

Address	Sq ft	Year	Just value	Expected	Overage	% over	$/yr
3XX LAKE AVENUE S 101	30,300	2024	$4,463,802	$3,423,900	$1,039,902	30.4%	$8,943
1XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	5,283	2018	$1,325,561	$596,979	$728,582	122%	$6,266
9XX WALNUT ST E	4,820	1950	$1,224,000	$544,660	$679,340	124.7%	$5,842
1XX LAKE MORTON DR	5,529	1938	$1,224,000	$624,777	$599,223	95.9%	$5,153
1XX LAKE MORTON DR	4,763	2007	$1,118,661	$538,219	$580,442	107.8%	$4,992
4XX LAKE AVE S	3,232	2004	$918,000	$365,216	$552,784	151.4%	$4,754
2XXX CRYSTAL LAKE DR S	6,023	1962	$1,193,400	$680,599	$512,801	75.3%	$4,410
7XX ANGELINA LN	5,368	1979	$1,101,600	$606,584	$495,016	81.6%	$4,257
5XX MCKAY CT	3,785	1961	$918,000	$427,705	$490,295	114.6%	$4,217
7XX INGRAHAM AVE S	6,661	1973	$1,224,000	$752,693	$471,307	62.6%	$4,053
7XX LIME ST E	3,990	1972	$918,000	$450,870	$467,130	103.6%	$4,017
1XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	6,195	1907	$1,111,695	$700,035	$411,660	58.8%	$3,540
5XX TIMBERLANE UNIT A-F	3,489	1983	$795,600	$394,257	$401,343	101.8%	$3,452
1XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	2,384	1947	$641,373	$269,392	$371,981	138.1%	$3,199
7XX ANGELINA LN	2,184	1977	$612,000	$246,792	$365,208	148%	$3,141
2XXX IDLEWILD ST	7,813	1971	$1,242,054	$882,869	$359,185	40.7%	$3,089
5XX MICHIGAN AVE	5,078	1968	$918,000	$573,814	$344,186	60%	$2,960
9XX E WALNUT ST	2,402	1924	$612,000	$271,426	$340,574	125.5%	$2,929
9XX VISTABULA ST	2,418	1910	$612,000	$273,234	$338,766	124%	$2,913
1XX LAKE MORTON DR #4	3,742	1947	$747,659	$422,846	$324,813	76.8%	$2,793
1XX LAKE MORTON DR	4,763	2006	$855,158	$538,219	$316,939	58.9%	$2,726
7XX LIME ST E	5,372	1927	$918,000	$607,036	$310,964	51.2%	$2,674
2XXX JUNGLE ST	4,296	1961	$795,600	$485,448	$310,152	63.9%	$2,667
7XX ANGELINA LN	2,684	1979	$612,000	$303,292	$308,708	101.8%	$2,655
7XX INGRAHAM AVE S	5,416	1972	$918,000	$612,008	$305,992	50%	$2,632

Data: FL DOR 2025 Final NAL roll, Polk County, ZIP 33801. Addresses anonymized to protect privacy; full data is public record under Fla. Stat. Ch. 119. Showing top 25 — there are likely more overassessed homes in this ZIP.

Is yours one of them?

Search your address — we'll show your specific overassessment estimate in 30 seconds. Then when PolkCounty's TRIM notice mails this August, you'll have a $49 DR-486 packet ready to file with the VAB.

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