Welcome, Warren County, VA Property Owners

Welcome, Warren County, VA Property Owners

You are probably here because you received a reassessment notice. Below are some useful documents and information.

Helpful Info and FAQ

Why Did I receive a reassessment Notice?

During 2024 Warren County conducted a general reassessment. This reassessment will be for the 2025 and 2026 tax year. The notice you received in the mail was sent let you know the assessed value of your property for these tax years. Reassessments are required by state code.

Does a higher assessment mean my taxes will go up?

Not necessarily. While your property’s assessed value is an important factor in determining your tax bill, the final amount you pay depends on the tax rate set by the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Even if your property’s value increases, the Board will carefully review the overall tax base and the county’s financial needs before setting a tax rate.

Will the tax rate be the same for the 2025 tax year as the 2024 tax year?

The Warren County, VA Board of Supervisors is committed to ensuring fair and responsible taxation. For the 2025 tax year, they will conduct a thorough needs assessment, review the county’s tax base, and evaluate financial requirements to determine the most appropriate tax rate. The Board values transparency and encourages citizen engagement—residents will have the opportunity to provide input during public hearings before any decisions are made. This thoughtful approach helps ensure that the county’s needs are met while considering the community's feedback.

Are there any exemptions or tax relief programs available?

Yes, there are programs for elderly and disabled citizens. These programs require an application which can be found at https://www.warrencountyva.gov/165/Forms

look for the 2025 Real Estate Tax Relief Application near the bottom.

If you have questions about these programs please call 540-635-2651 .

Why are Reassessments Done?

Reassessments are conducted to comply with state codes and to ensure that property assessment levels remain consistent over time. As years pass, various factors—such as physical changes, environmental conditions, government policies, and social or market trends—can influence property values. These forces can cause certain groups of properties, neighborhoods, or specific styles and ages of homes to appreciate or depreciate at different rates. By performing reassessments, property values are restored to equal levels, ensuring fairness and uniformity in taxation across all properties. This process helps maintain a balanced tax base and ensures that property taxes are distributed equitably.

Why did my property value change?

Over time property values increase or decrease due to changes in market conditions. Other factors such as rezonings, additions, remodeling, and acreage changes can also lead to a change in assessed value. State law requires that the assessments are at or near 100% of Fair Market Value.

What should I do if I disagree with my assessed value?

There is a simple 2 step process which citizens can follow. The first is an informal review. This is where you can either submit information to the assessor or meet with the assessors directly via zoom, telephone, or in person. If citizens are not satisfied with the results of the first step, he second step is the Board of Equalization. This is where taxpayers can present information to a group of citizens who have been trained by the State Department of Taxation and are appointed by the local Circuit Court. While both steps have deadlines and minimal paperwork, they are also free of charge to citizens.

More information on informal appeals are below.

For more information assessments you can go to either our General Questions FAQ Page, our Assessment Process Page, or our Informal Appeals Page.

You may review your property information at the following website: https://gis.vgsi.com/warrencountyVA/

Once there, click on the enter online database. On the online database you can search by property address, owner name, parcel ID, etc.

How We Can Help

If you have general questions, please review the information on our site. There is a lot of good information here. If you still need help, you can reach out to us via email or call us at 540-391-0779

You do not have to fill out an informal appeal form to have general questions answered.

Informal Appeals Process

Please review the General FAQ section of our website, and the assessment process section before filing an appeal. We also recommend you do basic research to verify your property data in the online database.

If you believe your property’s assessed value is inaccurate, we offer several convenient options for submitting an informal appeal. You are not required to schedule an appointment to have your assessment reviewed. Instead, you can provide supporting information in one of the following ways:

  • Online Appeal Form—This is the best and preferred option for submitting information.
    Complete the online appeal form and email any relevant documentation, such as recent appraisals, sales data, or property data discrepancies. Once submitted, the assessor’s office will review your information and contact you if further clarification is needed. The form has an option for requesting an appointment time, or to submit without requesting an appointment. The form can be found here or at the button below.

  • Email
    You can submit your appeal by emailing the assessor’s office directly. Be sure to include your property information, a description of your concerns, and any supporting documentation. You will need to complete the attached pdf form and submit via email. The link to the form is here:

    Phone

    If you prefer to call in order to submit your appeal information, you may do so by calling 540-391-0779.

If you choose to make an appointment, we offer flexible options to accommodate your preferences:

  • Phone Appointment
    Speak with an assessor at a scheduled time from the comfort of your home.

  • In-Person Appointment
    Meet with an assessor at the County Administration Building.

  • Virtual Appointment
    Schedule a virtual meeting via Zoom or Google Meet for a more convenient review process.

We aim to make the appeals process as accessible and straightforward as possible. Whether you submit information online, by email, or through a scheduled appointment, our team is here to help ensure your property’s assessed value is accurate and fair.

Be sure to review our appeal etiquette section below

The hearings will begin on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025: the last day of hearings is Friday, Feb. 14, 2025

The following days and times are available:

Mondays 9AM-4PM

Tuesday 1 PM to 9 PM

Wednesday 1 PM-9PM

Thursday 9AM-4PM

Friday 9AM-4PM

Appeal Etiquette

We strive to make the assessment process as fair and transparent as possible. While informal appeals are not required by state code, we offer them as a courtesy to ensure property owners have an opportunity to review and discuss their property’s assessed value. To make the most of your informal appeal appointment, we ask that you please observe the following guidelines:

  1. Appointment Time Limit
    Each taxpayer’s appointment is limited to 15 to 20 minutes. To ensure that every property owner has a fair opportunity to be heard, we ask that you arrive prepared and keep your discussion focused on the property and its assessed value.

  2. Submit Information in Writing
    We strongly encourage submitting any supporting documentation in writing prior to your appointment. Providing sales data, recent appraisals, or information on changes to your property in advance allows the assessor’s office to conduct a more thorough review before your meeting.

  3. Review Your Property Data Online
    Before requesting a review, we recommend that you first review your property data online. This can help you identify specific discrepancies or concerns, making your appeal more focused and effective.

  4. Review our Assessment Process section. This will answer many general questions.

  5. Stay on Topic
    Please keep the discussion limited to your property’s characteristics and market value. Refrain from discussing unrelated topics, such as your ability to pay, political concerns, or the county’s budget, tax rate. etc. The assessor’s role is solely to determine property values based on market data—they are not empowered to address other issues related to county government or tax policy.

  6. Respect the Process
    Bringing up issues outside the scope of property valuation will not only waste your time but also hinder the efficiency of the appeals process. Our goal is to help ensure your property is fairly assessed based on its market value, and staying focused on this objective will lead to the best possible outcome.

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines. By working together, we can ensure a smooth and productive appeals process for all property owners.

Last day to request an assessment review or submit document is February 11th, at 4:00 pm

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Last day to request an assessment review or submit document is February 11th, at 4:00 pm *

Why has my property value increased so much?

Property values have risen significantly across the area due to market trends and recent sales data. The reassessment reflects current market conditions, which may show higher property values compared to previous assessments. We used several hundred sales from the local market area to develop our assessments.

Does a higher assessed value mean my property taxes will go up?

Not necessarily. Your tax rate is set by your local government and depends on budget needs. An increase in assessed value doesn’t automatically mean an increase in taxes.

What is the difference between market value and assessed value?

Market value is the price your property would likely sell for in an open and competitive market, based on current market conditions, comparable sales, and other relevant factors. It reflects what a buyer is willing to pay for your property under typical circumstances.

Assessed value, on the other hand, is the value assigned to your property by the local assessor for tax purposes. In Virginia, the assessed value is generally intended to reflect 100% of the fair market value, as required by state law.

It’s important to note that while every effort is made to ensure assessments are accurate, individual properties may be over or under-assessed. This is not intentional but can result from natural variance or noise in market data, inefficiencies in model building, or differences in how specific property characteristics are captured during the assessment process. These factors are inherent in any mass appraisal system used to assess a large number of properties.

If you believe your property has been over or under-assessed, you are encouraged to file an appeal with supporting evidence, such as comparable sales data or a recent appraisal.

What is the assessment level in Virginia?

For the majority of real estate parcels, the intended assessment level is 100% of fair market value, as required by state law. However, there are exceptions for certain property types that are assessed using different methods or criteria. These exceptions include:

1. Agricultural, Horticultural, Forest, and Open Space Land

  • Properties enrolled in the Land Use Assessment Program are assessed based on their use value rather than fair market value.

  • This program provides a tax incentive to preserve land for farming, forestry, and conservation.

2. Public Service Corporation Properties

  • Utilities and other public service properties are assessed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

  • The assessment method may differ from the local assessment process.

3. Certain Exempt Properties

  • Properties owned by government entities, religious organizations, or non-profits may be partially or fully exempt from taxation.

  • These exemptions are often codified in state law or granted through local ordinances.

4. Historic Properties

  • Some historic properties may qualify for special tax credits or reduced assessments if they meet specific preservation criteria.

5. Affordable Housing

  • In some cases, affordable housing developments may be assessed based on income capitalization (income generated by the property) rather than fair market value

How often are reassessments conducted?

Reassessments are typically conducted every few years, depending on local regulations. Localities in Virginia can choose to conduct reassessments every year, or up to every 4 to 6 years depending upon the population in the locality. Warren County, VA conducts reassessments every 2 years.

How does the reassessment impact exemptions I currently receive, like elderly or disabled exemptions?

Exemptions are applied separately from the reassessment. Contact the Commissioner of Revenue office at 540) 635-2651 if you have questions about exemptions.

Does the reassessment consider recent renovations or changes to my property?

Yes, recent renovations or changes that add value to your property are typically reflected in the reassessment. If you have added anything or torn down anything in the recent past, these things should be accounted for in the assessment. However, even if you have not made physical changes to your property the value could change up or down based upon market influences. Over time the physical, environmental, governmental, and social forces at play in the market will lead to changes in market value.

What should I do if I believe there is an error in the property description for my property? How can I get them corrected?

We recommend that you review your property data online at https://gis.vgsi.com/warrencountyVA/ If you believe there are errors, such as incorrect square footage or features such as bathroom count, contact our office via email at warrenreassessment@professionalassessor.com

Are agricultural, commercial, or rental properties assessed differently than residential properties?

Most properties will be assessed at 100% of their fair market value. Some exceptions are properties in the land use program (which have their assessment based upon the agricultural production value instead of market value), some exempt properties, and some affordable housing properties that are verified to be in the HUD Low income housing tax credit program.

Different property types may use distinct valuation methods based on local laws and market conditions. All of methods used sales data. Some methods and property types may rely heavily on income and rental data, or estimated construction cost less depreciation.

Why did my neighbor’s assessment change differently than mine?

Property assessments vary based on factors like size, location, age, improvements, renovations, garage vs no garage, and recent sales. Even nearby properties can differ significantly. Also, we could have discovered a discrepancy in the records for your or your neighbors previous assessment which we corrected for the current or updated assessment.

Below are links to some documents that have been published by the International Association of Assessing Officers.

You may find these documents helpful for understand assessments.