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 33803 are overassessed?

26.5% of homes in Lakeland ZIP 33803 (2,410 of 9,100 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 33803?

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 33803 property tax overassessment report

26.5% of homes in Lakeland ZIP 33803 (2,410 of 9,100 parcels) are assessed more than 10% above what comparable-size homes in the same ZIP typically pay per square foot. Combined annual overpayment: $2,190,864.

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

9,100

Homes in ZIP

2,410

Flagged as overassessed

26.5%

$105,706

Avg overage / home

$301,587

Typical value

~$128/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 33803

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
1XXX JEFFERSON DR	16,417	1993	$4,331,815	$2,101,376	$2,230,439	106.1%	$19,182
1X BROOK LN	8,415	2022	$2,548,984	$1,077,120	$1,471,864	136.6%	$12,658
1XXX SEVILLE PL	9,871	2023	$2,675,173	$1,263,488	$1,411,685	111.7%	$12,140
3XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	9,265	2004	$2,582,905	$1,185,920	$1,396,985	117.8%	$12,014
1XXX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	12,114	2000	$2,827,037	$1,550,592	$1,276,445	82.3%	$10,977
1XXX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	11,887	2018	$2,779,712	$1,521,536	$1,258,176	82.7%	$10,820
1XXX HERITAGE ESTATES DR	9,518	2019	$2,461,790	$1,218,304	$1,243,486	102.1%	$10,694
1XXX HERITAGE ESTATES DR	10,828	2013	$2,593,456	$1,385,984	$1,207,472	87.1%	$10,384
3XXX WINGED FOOT DR	10,821	2004	$2,466,277	$1,385,088	$1,081,189	78.1%	$9,298
5XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	8,067	2000	$2,105,500	$1,032,576	$1,072,924	103.9%	$9,227
3XXX WINGED FOOT DR	10,025	2016	$2,334,646	$1,283,200	$1,051,446	81.9%	$9,042
3XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	7,527	1969	$1,971,979	$963,456	$1,008,523	104.7%	$8,673
3XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	6,051	1996	$1,758,844	$774,528	$984,316	127.1%	$8,465
2XXX COLLINS LN	9,772	1974	$2,159,022	$1,250,816	$908,206	72.6%	$7,811
1XXX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	8,000	1990	$1,929,762	$1,024,000	$905,762	88.5%	$7,790
2XXX SANCTUARY CIR	5,721	2015	$1,605,903	$732,288	$873,615	119.3%	$7,513
2XXX PHILLIPS AVE	7,148	2014	$1,754,920	$914,944	$839,976	91.8%	$7,224
3XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	9,211	1982	$1,970,806	$1,179,008	$791,798	67.2%	$6,809
4XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	6,006	1968	$1,556,646	$768,768	$787,878	102.5%	$6,776
1XXX HERITAGE ESTATES DR	6,981	2014	$1,679,247	$893,568	$785,679	87.9%	$6,757
1XXX HERITAGE ESTATES DR	5,895	2016	$1,540,189	$754,560	$785,629	104.1%	$6,756
2XXX REANEY RD	7,936	1959	$1,791,105	$1,015,808	$775,297	76.3%	$6,668
1XXX OAKLAWN PL	8,267	1993	$1,826,978	$1,058,176	$768,802	72.7%	$6,612
9XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	6,411	1939	$1,574,345	$820,608	$753,737	91.9%	$6,482
9XX LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR	8,860	1955	$1,864,278	$1,134,080	$730,198	64.4%	$6,280

Data: FL DOR 2025 Final NAL roll, Polk County, ZIP 33803. 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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