As part of the upcoming 2021 property revaluation, Polk County Local Government staff next week will begin visits to properties throughout the county to ensure taxation assessments are accurate.

Polk County conducts a revaluation every four years to lessen large swings in valuation that impact citizens. The last revaluation was in 2017. North Carolina law requires each county to conduct a revaluation at least once every eight years. The reappraisal is being conducted by Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group LTD.

The new property values will become effective Jan. 1, 2021 and will be reflected in the tax bills that will be sent out in July 2021.

The primary purpose of any revaluation program is to provide equalization among all property owners, as well as among all classes of property. The program is not intended to increase revenue but only to ensure that each property owner pays only his fair share of the cost of services rendered by local government.

If a property owner thinks the appraised value of a property is significantly more than what it would sell for or is not appraised in accordance with comparable properties in the area, an appeal process is available. The appeal process will begin after the new value notices are mailed in January 2021.

More about the 2021 revaluation can be found here on the Polk County Local Government’s Tax Department page and by calling the Tax Department at (828) 894-8500.