Polk County
Polk County, Florida
330 W. Church St.
Bartow, Florida 33830
Tel: 863-534-6000
County Website: Polk county
Assessor Website: Polk county assessor
Polk County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- As a property owner, you have the right to appeal
- If you disagree with the property appraiser's assessment, you can discuss the assessment with the property appraiser's office.
- By having an informal conference, you may be able to settle the issue without going to a hearing or going to court.
- You can also file a petition with the county value adjustment board (VAB) to appeal the property appraiser's assessment
- You can also file a lawsuit in circuit court to challenge the property appraiser's assessment or the VAB's decision.
- You may file a lawsuit in circuit court to challenge the property appraiser’s assessment or denial of an exemption or classification.
- You must file within 60 days of the date of a VAB decision or the property appraiser’s certification of the tax roll, whichever is later.
- For more information, contact the property appraiser at (863) 534-4777
URLs
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Polk county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Polk county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Polk county assessor's website to find the phone number to call. If the assessor determines that your property is worth less than the value on which your taxes are based, your property taxes may be lowered.
Tax exemptions
Start by finding what your tax bill is. Typically you will find your tax bill information on your mortgage statement. Look for tax exemptions or credits that you may be eligible for. Many states and localities offer exemptions or credits for homeowners who meet certain criteria, information such as being over a certain age or having a low income. Polk county may have these types of exemptions available for homeowners. These exemptions and credits can lower the property tax you owe.
Appeal tax assessment
Appeal the property tax assessment. If you believe that your property's value has been overestimated, you can typically appeal the assessment to your Polk county tax assessor's office. This is part of the services that your assessor's office provides. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as a recent appraisal or sales data for comparable properties and homes in your area. Usually, you will meet with the Board of Equalization. If your appeal is successful, your property taxes may be lowered.
Challenge the tax rate
Consider challenging the tax rate. In some cases, the amount of property taxes you owe is not based on the value of your property, but on the tax rate set by your local government. If you believe that the tax rate is too high, you can contact your Polk county government and ask them to consider reducing it.
Property Tax Rules
Stay up-to-date on your property's value and property tax rules. For the purpose of lowering your Polk county property tax, property value is the assessed property value and not the market property value. Assessed property value is used for taxation purposes while market property value is what a buyer and seller would likely agree on. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. Your property's value can change over time due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the local real estate market or improvements you make to your property. To ensure that your property taxes are accurate and fair, it is important to stay informed about your property's value and contact Polk county local tax assessor's office if you believe there has been a significant change.
Keep in mind that property tax laws and regulations can vary, so it is important to consult with your Polk county Florida tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Polk County
Homes in Polk county have a median home value of $153,807.
Polk county home values are ranked 39 out of 67 counties in the state of Florida for median home price. The average median home value in Florida is $172,194. Glades county has the lowest median price at $74,319. Monroe county has the highest median price at $558,287.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Polk county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~18%.
The median household income in Polk county is $51,535.
Compared to the state of Florida and the United States, Polk county's median household income is lower than the state of Florida's average median household income of $53,012 and the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Polk county's population has grown from 405,382 in 1990 to 725,046 in 2020, an increase of 79% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Florida's population has grown from 12,938,071 in 1990 to 21,538,187 in 2020, an increase of 66% over that time frame.
In the United States, the population has grown from 248,790,925 in 1990 to 331,449,281 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.
Polk county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is greater than the population change for Florida and the United States.
Polk County Florida Cities
Auburndale, Babson Park, Bartow, Bradley, Cypress Gardens, Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Eloise, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Grenelefe, Homeland, Kathleen, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, Lakeland, Mulberry, Poinciana, Polk City, Southside, Waverly, Winter Haven
Polk County Florida Zipcodes
33801 / 33803 / 33805 / 33809 / 33811 / 33813 / 33823 / 33827 / 33830 / 33835 / 33837 / 33838 / 33839 / 33841 / 33843 / 33844 / 33847 / 33849 / 33850 / 33851 / 33853 / 33860 / 33868 / 33877 / 33880 / 33881 / 33884 / 34759 /
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