Do property tax appeals work in Surry County?
Usually, yes. In 2025, Surry County lowered the value in 55% of its 74 informal reviews, by a typical 16.1%.
55%
of 2025 informal reviews lowered the value
16.1%
typical cut when the value came down (2025)
87
decisions on record, 2025
8%
were raised instead. It happens; the board can go either way.
Year by year
Value loweredNo changeValue raised
-
2025 · Informal review74 decided55% lowered
typical cut 16.1% -
2025 · Board hearing13 decided54% lowered
typical cut 27.7%
"Typical cut" is the median drop among values that came down. Informal review with the assessor comes first; owners who aren't satisfied go on to a hearing before the Board of Equalization and Review, so the same home can appear at both levels.
What this means if you're thinking of appealing
- Check the record firstA wrong square footage or bedroom count is the easiest kind of appeal to win, and the assessor can fix a factual error in any year.
- Start with the informal reviewIt's quicker than a formal hearing, and if you're not satisfied you can still take it to the Board afterward.
- Bring sales, not feelingsRecent sales of similar homes near yours are the evidence the board weighs. A higher tax bill alone isn't a reason it can act on.
- Know it can go up8% of decisions here raised the value. Past results don't predict yours.
Start with your own record. It's free.
See exactly what Surry County has on file for your home, mark anything that's wrong, and we'll write the correction request for you to send. Then compare your value with the sales near you.
Sources
- Surry County Board of Equalization and Review minutes, 2025 session (public records request #26-374, Nov 2026)
- Surry County Tax Department appeal query, tax year 2025 (public records request #26-374, Nov 2026)
- Note: the appeals in the county's appeal export for tax year 2025.
- Years with fewer than 10 decisions at a level are left out; a percentage of a handful of appeals isn't a result. Withdrawn appeals aren't counted as decided.
These are Surry County's numbers about past appeals, not a prediction for any home and not an opinion of any property's value.