Guilford County Property Owners Can Appeal Reassessments

Tax Director encourages appeals as property values skyrocket, impacting homeowners and renters

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Many Guilford County homeowners are facing steep increases in their property tax bills after a recent property value reassessment. Tax Director Ben Chavis says there is an appeals process, and he hopes residents will file appeals by the May 15th deadline. Chavis explains the values are based on comparable home sales, but homeowners can appeal if there are issues with the interior or exterior of their homes that were not accounted for. Realtor Grace Clifford plans to appeal her own recent home assessment and is encouraging clients to do the same, hoping the volume of appeals will prompt the county to reconsider the tax rate.

Why it matters

The property value reassessment in Guilford County has led to significant tax increases for many homeowners, which could also impact renters as landlords pass on the higher costs. The appeals process provides an opportunity for residents to challenge the new assessments, but the high volume of appeals could also prompt the county to reevaluate the overall tax rate.

The details

Guilford County Tax Director Ben Chavis says the property values are determined based on data about the sale prices of comparable homes in the area. However, homeowners can appeal if there are issues with the interior or exterior of their homes that were not accounted for, such as the age of the roof, foundation problems, or outdated interiors. The appeals form can be filled out online, and Chavis encourages people to use pictures and documents to support their case. The Tax Department has budgeted for around $2.5 billion in anticipated lowered values due to appeals.

  • The deadline to file an appeal is May 15th, 2026.
  • The Tax Department has until the end of the calendar year to respond to appeals.

The players

Ben Chavis

The Guilford County Tax Director, who is encouraging residents to file appeals and explaining the process.

Grace Clifford

A Greensboro area Realtor who plans to appeal her own home's reassessment and is encouraging her clients to do the same.

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What they’re saying

“We only have the opportunity to take a look at the exterior of the property. With 220,000 properties, we're not able to go on the inside of every property, and probably property owners would not want us on the inside of their home. But obviously, if there's some issues on the inside of their property, make us aware of that.”

— Ben Chavis, Guilford County Tax Director (myfox8.com)

“I just bought my house four months ago, and it appraised for higher than when I bought the house, and I got an appraisal when I bought the house. The appraisal stating it was a certain price, and they're saying the tax value is higher than that price. That logically doesn't make sense, and I wouldn't be able to sell it for that price. I think an appeal is definitely worth doing.”

— Grace Clifford, Greensboro Area Realtor (myfox8.com)

What’s next

The Guilford County Tax Department has until the end of the calendar year to respond to appeals, but in rare cases, people can appeal directly to the state or take a case to the state, which may take longer.

The takeaway

The property value reassessment in Guilford County has led to significant tax increases for many homeowners, which could also impact renters as landlords pass on the higher costs. The appeals process provides an opportunity for residents to challenge the new assessments, but the high volume of appeals could also prompt the county to reevaluate the overall tax rate.