Alabama Property Tax Appeal Guide

What This Data Tells Us About Appeals in Alabama

In Alabama, property tax appeals are filed with the County Board of Equalization. The typical window is Within 30 days of receiving the assessment notice, with the deadline most commonly falling in October. Filing fees reported for this state are $0, and Lincoln Institute research plus state-reported data suggest roughly 42% of appeals result in some reduction when supported by comparable sales or documented errors.

Alabama assessments are based on 10% of fair market value for residential property. Focus on the assessed value, not the tax amount directly. Appeals are driven by the gap between a parcel's assessed value and its actual market value — the calculator below turns that gap into an annualized dollar figure at your effective tax rate. The strongest evidence is three to five arms-length comparable sales from the past six to twelve months, plus documentation of any factual errors in the assessor's record (square footage, bedroom count, finished-basement status).

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Deadlines, filing fees, success rates, and procedures vary by county within Alabama and can change year to year. Always verify the current rules with your local assessor's office — or a licensed attorney or tax professional — before filing. Source: Alabama Department of Revenue.