Knox County mailboxes are lighting up this week with reappraisal notices that show property values jumping by roughly 60 percent after a countywide reassessment. The letters list your new assessed value, not your tax bill, and county officials say the next big move is resetting the certified tax rate so that overall tax revenue stays about the same. If you think the county overshot your home’s value, there are several ways to appeal, but the clock starts ticking as soon as that notice arrives.
Reappraisal rollout and timeline
The Knox County Property Assessor’s Office says this year’s reappraisal wrapped up in the spring, with official notices scheduled to reach property owners in May and informal appeals open through the end of May, according to the Knox County Property Assessor’s Office. The office notes that this reappraisal is tied to a new two year cycle adopted for 2026 and stresses that the notices are informational, serving as the starting gun for the appeals process. Homeowners who want a closer look can request a field review or pull recent comparable sales before filing an informal appeal.
The numbers and why your tax bill may not spike
Assessments have climbed about 60 percent across the county, County Assessor Phil Ballard told WBIR, but that eye popping number does not automatically mean a 60 percent jump in your tax bill. Ballard and other county leaders say the certified tax rate will be reset after the reappraisal so that total tax collections stay roughly neutral. Ballard has suggested the county rate could drop toward about 1 dollar per 100 dollars of assessed value, down from the current 1.554 dollars per 100 dollars, although the Knox County Commission will set the final rate this summer. That adjustment is the standard way counties avoid taking in a surprise revenue windfall when property values rise across the board.
In practical terms, if your assessed value rises by about the same percentage as the county average, a lower certified tax rate can leave your bill close to what you paid last year. Individual results will still vary. Homes that jumped more than the average or that sit in different tax jurisdictions, such as city versus unincorporated areas, could see more noticeable changes in what is ultimately owed.
How to check your notice and appeal
If your new value looks off, your first move is an informal appeal through the Assessor’s Office. The county website lays out the steps and deadlines and explains that the County Board of Equalization begins meeting June 1 to hear formal appeals, according to the Assessor’s Office. Strong appeals usually come with backup, such as recent comparable sales, an independent appraisal that is less than a year old, or proof that the assessor’s property details are wrong, like inaccurate square footage or missing additions. Keep in mind that appeals are about the value or classification of your property, not about tax policy or the tax rate itself.
Help is available
The county says staff are available to walk residents through the process, and local reporting notes that the Assessor’s Office has set aside a small team to handle the surge in calls as notices go out. WBIR reported that staff have been flagged to answer questions from homeowners who are not sure what to make of their new numbers. If you plan to call, it helps to gather sale prices for similar homes and photos or documentation of any condition issues first, so any review can move faster.
What to watch next
All eyes now turn to the Knox County Commission’s summer schedule. Commissioners will set the certified tax rate later this year, and that decision will determine how much of the higher assessments, if any, turn into higher tax bills. Look for follow up notices in mid to late June that lock in final assessed values for the next tax year, and if you think the county overshot your number, be ready to get your appeal in before the window closes.
