Fair Assessment

Property tax appeals · checked 23 October 2026

Property tax appeal companies: what they charge, and when to do it yourself

Search "property tax appeal service" and you'll find companies and attorneys offering to fight your assessment for a share of the savings. Here's how the pricing works and how to decide whether you need one.

Want the answer for your own case? Use the tool, then read on for the details.

Check if my home is over-assessed (free)

How they charge

  • A share of the saving. Most work on contingency: nothing up front, then a percentage of the tax you save. Ownwell, for example, says it charges homeowners 25% to 35% of the actual saving depending on the state, and nothing if there's no saving.
  • Usually the first year only, but read the agreement. Some contracts renew every year automatically and keep filing (and charging) until you cancel.
  • Worked example: a $6,000 bill cut to $5,000 saves $1,000. At 25% you pay $250 and keep $750. Filing yourself, you keep the full $1,000.

When a company or attorney is worth it

  • Commercial, rental or very high-value property, where the evidence is an income or cost study, not simple home sales.
  • Appeals that go to a hearing or a state board, where an experienced representative helps.
  • You don't have the time, and a share of the saving is a fair price for that.

When doing it yourself is easy

  • An ordinary home with 3 to 5 clear comparable sales nearby.
  • Your county takes appeals online and free. Cook County does at both the Assessor and the Board of Review.
  • The problem is a missing exemption, which is often a form, not an argument. Cook County exemptions.

Questions to ask before you sign

  1. What percentage, of which year's saving, and is there a minimum fee?
  2. Does the agreement renew automatically each year? How do I cancel?
  3. Do you charge if the saving comes from an exemption I could have claimed myself?
  4. Who files and who attends any hearing?

Check if my home is over-assessed (free)

If the check shows a gap, the 5 steps to dispute your property taxes walk you through filing it yourself. Cook County deadlines: by township.

Source: Ownwell FAQ (fees of 25 to 35% of actual property tax savings depending on state; no savings, no fee), read 23 October 2026. Other companies' terms vary; always read the agreement. General guidance, not legal advice.