WASHINGTON, N.C. -- This week, Beaufort County property owners will receive notices of their new appraised property values as determined through the County’s 2025 revaluation.
North Carolina state law requires all real property must be reappraised at least every eight years. County commissions can choose to revalue more frequently. In 2022 the Beaufort County Commissioners voted to affirm 2025 as their next revaluation, with plans to shift to a 6-year cycle thereafter.
Statutes require that all real and personal property be valued at fair market value. Since personal property is reassessed every year, periodic revaluations of real property are necessary to minimize inequities that develop in the tax base over time. Inequities also develop within property classifications. For example, values of properties located on or near the water have historically changed much faster than inland properties.
The revaluation process helps ensure that property taxes are levied equitably, based on current market value, as required by state law.
As part of the revaluation process, appraisers classified properties into market areas or neighborhoods. They analyzed sales data and other market trends within these neighborhoods to assess what comparable properties have sold for. Appraisers then used a Uniform Schedule of Values to evaluate properties using the same standards to maintain fairness and equity.
Property owners receiving revaluation notices are encouraged to visit BeaufortCountyNC.gov/Revaluation for more information about the revaluation and appeals process.
It is important to note that the revaluation notice is not a tax bill. The county tax rate is set annually by the Board of Commissioners, typically in June. Your tax bill will be calculated by multiplying the tax value by the new tax rate.
To verify the accuracy of your new value, use Beaufort County’s GIS website to review arms-length sales in your neighborhood of properties similar to yours. Click here to access Beaufort County's GIS site.
Appeals
Taxpayers who agree with the value listed on their notice do not need to act. Taxpayers who disagree with their listed tax value can file an appeal. Appeal forms and information can be found here.
The appeal process only pertains to appraised property values, not the tax rate.
Here are some examples of valid reasons to appeal:
- The new value is substantially above or below the actual market value of the property
- The new value is inconsistent with the market value of similar properties
- The listed square footage is substantially incorrect
- Tax records do not reflect the characteristics of the property.
Appeals based on the following reasons will not be considered:
- The market value has changed too much compared to the previous valuation
- The market value is different from construction cost or insurance value
- The property owner believes the market value is just too high or low
- The property owner might not be financially able to pay taxes
