Property Tax Appeal
- 1Property
- 2Comps
- 3Deficiencies
- 4Details
- 5Generate
Property details
From the King County AssessorAnything wrong here? A record error alone can change your value. View full assessor record →
An error in past years too? Ask about a Manifest Error Correction: refunds can reach back up to 3 years.
Current assessment
Your comparable sales
The closest matches to your home that sold in the year the assessor values. Swap any that aren't really like yours.
Keep a sale even if it sold high: the Board looks for a fair set of similar homes, and the Assessor will point out a cherry-picked one.
More sales you can swap in
Property Deficiencies
Check any problems your home really has. Documented repair costs change the value, and so, in some King County areas, does a condition your Assessor's record missed; the others go into your packet as reasons the comparable sales may overstate your home.
Optional — comparable sales are the primary evidence. Deficiencies add supporting context.
Important: The BOE expects evidence for each deficiency you claim. Checking boxes without documentation (photos, maps, repair estimates) weakens your appeal. Each item you checked says what counts as proof and how to get it.
Property sits on a steep grade making access, parking, or yard use difficult. Reduces buyer pool and increases maintenance costs.
Proof: Photos that show the grade, and a slope map of your lot. Retaining-wall repair estimates if any.
- Open KC iMap, find your parcel and turn on the topography or steep-slope layer. Print or screenshot it.
- Photograph the driveway or walk from the sidewalk, holding the phone level so the angle is obvious.
Enter only amounts from written bids you'll attach (contractor, license number, date, itemized work). The amount is deducted from your requested value; the Board ignores estimates without a bid.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Home requires climbing stairs to enter — no ADA-accessible or ground-level entry. Limits accessibility and reduces buyer appeal.
Proof: Photos of the full staircase from the street, and the step count.
- Stand at the bottom and photograph the whole climb to the door; count the steps.
- Photograph any other entrance too, so the Board sees there's no level way in.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Property is near I-5, SR-99, Aurora Ave, or other high-traffic roads. Constant noise reduces livability and resale value.
Proof: A map showing how close the road is, plus photos from your windows or yard.
- In Google Maps, right-click your house, choose Measure distance, click the nearest lane. Screenshot the distance.
- Optional: a decibel reading from a free phone app at your window at rush hour. Note the time.
Enter only amounts from written bids you'll attach (contractor, license number, date, itemized work). The amount is deducted from your requested value; the Board ignores estimates without a bid.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Property is near active railroad tracks. Train horns, vibration, and noise at all hours significantly impact livability.
Proof: A map showing the distance to the tracks, photos, and how often trains pass.
- In Google Maps, right-click your house, choose Measure distance, click the tracks. Screenshot it.
- Over a day, note roughly how many trains pass, including at night.
Enter only amounts from written bids you'll attach (contractor, license number, date, itemized work). The amount is deducted from your requested value; the Board ignores estimates without a bid.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Property is under a regular flight path for SeaTac, Boeing Field, or other airports. Overhead noise impacts daily life and property value.
Proof: An airport noise map showing your home inside a noise contour, and a photo of low planes.
- Find your address on SeaTac noise boundary maps, Live flight tracker, Port of Seattle noise study and screenshot your home's location on the map.
- Photograph planes passing overhead from your yard; note how often they come.
Enter only amounts from written bids you'll attach (contractor, license number, date, itemized work). The amount is deducted from your requested value; the Board ignores estimates without a bid.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
High-voltage transmission lines run over or adjacent to the property, or a utility easement restricts what you can build. Both reduce desirability and value.
Proof: Photos of the lines or towers from your property, and the easement if one crosses your lot.
- Screenshot your lot on KC Parcel Viewer to show where the lines run.
- A utility easement appears on the title report from your purchase. Check your closing documents.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Property is in a designated critical area (wetland buffer, landslide zone, flood plain, or steep slope hazard area). Restricts development and increases insurance costs.
Proof: A critical-area map for your lot, and a FEMA flood map if you're in a flood zone.
- Open KC iMap, find your parcel and turn on the critical areas layers (landslide, wetland, flood). Print it.
- On the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, search your address and print the free flood map (FIRMette).
Enter only amounts from written bids you'll attach (contractor, license number, date, itemized work). The amount is deducted from your requested value; the Board ignores estimates without a bid.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Property needs significant repairs — aging roof, old furnace, plumbing issues, foundation problems, etc. The assessor may not know about these.
Proof: Written repair bids from licensed contractors, and photos of the damage. This is your strongest evidence: the bid amount is deducted from your requested value.
- Get 1–2 written bids showing the contractor's name, license number, date, itemized work and total price.
- Photograph the damage up close and from a distance. Add your pre-purchase inspection report if you have one.
Rough ranges to help you decide whether to get bids. These are not evidence: the Board needs written contractor bids.
| Roof replacement | $12,000 – $25,000 |
| Foundation repair | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Furnace / HVAC replacement | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Sewer line replacement | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| Exterior paint (full house) | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Window replacement (10+ windows) | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Plumbing re-pipe | $4,000 – $10,000 |
This amount is subtracted from your requested value. Enter only what your written bids support, and attach them.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
No garage, no driveway, or street parking only. In competitive neighborhoods this meaningfully reduces value vs. comparable homes with parking.
Proof: Photos of the street parking, and a note if your comps have garages or driveways while yours doesn't.
- Photograph the street at evening or weekend peak, showing it full.
- In step 2, note which of your comps have a garage or driveway.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Townhouse or row house with shared walls with neighbors. Noise transfer and lack of privacy reduce value compared to detached homes.
Proof: Photos that show your home is attached to neighbors.
- Photograph the front of the building so the shared walls between units are visible.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
View is blocked by neighboring buildings, trees, or topography — relevant if comparable sales have views and yours doesn't. View premiums can be significant.
Proof: Photos from your windows or deck showing the obstruction, especially if nearby comps sold with a view.
- Photograph the view from your main rooms, including what blocks it.
- If any of your comps have a view and yours doesn't, say so in your notes.
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Lot is significantly smaller than neighborhood average, has an unusual shape limiting use, or lacks direct street frontage (flag lot).
Proof: A parcel map showing your lot's size and shape next to your neighbors', and a lot-size comparison with your comps.
- Screenshot your lot and its neighbors on KC Parcel Viewer.
- Compare your lot size with your comps' lot sizes (shown in step 2).
Examples (illustrations and public-map screenshots):
Details for your petition
Answers only you know, so your documents are ready to sign. The usual answer is already selected.
Your Information
Use the name on your property deed if possible.
Your Opinion of Value
What do you believe the property is worth?
Comparable sales value the home as a whole, so the reduction goes to the building; change the land only if you have evidence about the land itself.
Your packet shows both numbers, what your comparable sales indicate and what you ask for, with this reason. The Board will ask about the difference.
Secure one-time payment via Stripe — $39, no subscription. Your documents are delivered instantly, so the purchase is non-refundable unless a technical problem stops delivery.
Appeal Packet Ready!
A copy was also emailed to
All editable Word docs — review and customize before filing.
In the zip
- README.txt: start here. "Left for you" lists the few things only you can do, then how to file.
- cover_letter.docx and valuation_evidence.docx: your letter and evidence for the Board.
- petition_worksheet.docx: your answers to type into King County eAppeals.
- hearing_prep.docx: what to say and how to answer the Board's questions.
Deadline: July 1, or 60 days after your value notice was mailed, whichever is later. File online in King County eAppeals.
Tick the box above to download.