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 33881 are overassessed?

21.8% of homes in Winter Haven ZIP 33881 (2,770 of 12,692 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 Winter Haven ZIP 33881?

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 · Winter Haven

ZIP 33881 property tax overassessment report

21.8% of homes in Winter Haven ZIP 33881 (2,770 of 12,692 parcels) are assessed more than 10% above what comparable-size homes in the same ZIP typically pay per square foot. Combined annual overpayment: $1,343,624.

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

12,692

Homes in ZIP

2,770

Flagged as overassessed

21.8%

$56,403

Avg overage / home

$226,967

Typical value

~$105/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 33881

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
1XX BRIGHAM RD	3,316	2020	$1,100,697	$348,180	$752,517	216.1%	$6,472
1XX NW OAK CREST DR	4,154	1984	$1,060,800	$436,170	$624,630	143.2%	$5,372
3XX BRIGHAM RD	7,674	2023	$1,424,770	$805,770	$619,000	76.8%	$5,323
2XXX LAKE ALFRED RD	3,682	1981	$944,736	$386,610	$558,126	144.4%	$4,800
3XX BRIGHAM RD	5,770	2023	$1,153,878	$605,850	$548,028	90.5%	$4,713
3XX BRIGHAM RD	5,869	2020	$1,121,189	$616,245	$504,944	81.9%	$4,343
3XXX COUNTRY CLUB RD S	5,149	1980	$1,035,591	$540,645	$494,946	91.5%	$4,257
1X HICKORY WAY	6,224	1990	$1,127,900	$653,520	$474,380	72.6%	$4,080
2XXX KENDALL LN	7,592	2005	$1,267,986	$797,160	$470,826	59.1%	$4,049
1XXX NW 6TH ST	3,134	1954	$795,600	$329,070	$466,530	141.8%	$4,012
2XXX 5TH ST NE	4,674	1963	$944,736	$490,770	$453,966	92.5%	$3,904
1XXX S LAKE MIRROR DR NW	8,030	2003	$1,296,276	$843,150	$453,126	53.7%	$3,897
1XXX LAKE MARIAM DR	4,660	1981	$928,200	$489,300	$438,900	89.7%	$3,775
3XX AVENUE N NE	2,580	1955	$708,552	$270,900	$437,652	161.6%	$3,764
3XX LAKE ELBERT DR NE	4,315	1951	$882,846	$453,075	$429,771	94.9%	$3,696
2XXX COUNTRY CLUB RD N	7,215	2001	$1,164,762	$757,575	$407,187	53.7%	$3,502
2XXX W LAKE HAMILTON DR	10,515	2000	$1,491,647	$1,104,075	$387,572	35.1%	$3,333
1XXX S LAKE MIRROR DR NW	9,521	1950	$1,385,042	$999,705	$385,337	38.5%	$3,314
7XX LAKE JESSIE DR 1/2	4,574	1955	$864,864	$480,270	$384,594	80.1%	$3,308
1XXX E LAKE CANNON DR NW	4,084	1949	$791,085	$428,820	$362,265	84.5%	$3,115
3XXX COUNTRY CLUB RD S	8,563	1930	$1,261,324	$899,115	$362,209	40.3%	$3,115
2XXX LAKE HAMILTON DR W	4,675	1928	$848,449	$490,875	$357,574	72.8%	$3,075
2XX BRIGHAM RD	4,256	2002	$800,531	$446,880	$353,651	79.1%	$3,041
1XX AVENUE B NE	5,670	1973	$944,736	$595,350	$349,386	58.7%	$3,005
2XXX LAKE ALFRED RD	2,447	1925	$600,096	$256,935	$343,161	133.6%	$2,951

Data: FL DOR 2025 Final NAL roll, Polk County, ZIP 33881. 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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