DeKalb County property tax appeal 2027: deadline, forms and how to file
To appeal a DeKalb County assessment, file with the DeKalb County Board of Assessors / Property Appraisal Department online at propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov, by mail or in person; in Georgia the deadline is 45 days after the assessment notice is mailed. Confirm the exact date on your notice or with the assessor; we add each county's 2027 date here when it is published.
DeKalb's Property Appraisal resources page lists late May as when assessment notices are mailed, with the appeal deadline 45 days from the notice; the department's page said 2025 notices were mailed June 3, 2025.
Data as of 20 Oct 2026 · DeKalb County Board of Assessors / Property Appraisal Department (first review), then the DeKalb County Board of Equalization (hearing)Check your own assessment
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How to file in DeKalb County
- Step 1
File the appeal
Online at propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov with the account number on your notice, or by mailing Form PT-311A. State the grounds the county recognises.
- Step 2 · before the hearing
Prepare and submit your evidence
The Board of Tax Assessors must prove its value by a preponderance of the evidence, and a board may lower but not raise a real-property value on appeal. Ask the assessors for the records and comparable properties they used; they must provide them within ten business days at no more than 25 cents a page (O.C.G.A. §48-5-306(d)). Either side may demand the other’s witnesses and documents 10 days before the hearing. A certified appraisal dated within nine months of January 1, recent comparable sales and photos of condition issues are the strongest evidence.
- Step 3
Meet, then hear
An assessors’ review with DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department comes first; if you decline the offer, the DeKalb County Board of Equalization hears the case. Most reductions happen at the first step.
Before you file: how to read your notice · evidence that works · informal vs formal hearing · when not to appeal
Forms
| Form | Number | Use | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appeal of Assessment Form | PT-311A | The statewide appeal form. Choose a route (Board of Equalization, hearing officer or arbitration) and state your opinion of value. A signed letter giving the property location and the ID number on your notice also counts as an appeal. | |
| Real Property Appeal Form (PT-311A, modernized fillable version, Aug 31 2026) | PT-311A | Paper appeal of a real property assessment, filed with the Property Appraisal Department. | Fillable PDF |
| Motor Vehicle Appeal Form (fillable, Aug 31 2026) | — | Appeal of a motor vehicle (title ad valorem) value. | Fillable PDF |
Appeal levels
| Level | Who hears it | Deadline | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessors’ review | DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department (Board of Assessors) | 45 days from the notice date | Free |
| Board of Equalization | DeKalb County Board of Equalization (three citizens) | Elected in the same filing; the hearing is held 20–30 days after you are notified of it | Free |
| Hearing officer or arbitration (alternatives) | State-certified appraiser hearing officer, or non-binding arbitration | Elected in the same filing | Arbitration: you pay for a certified appraisal and, if the county’s value is closer, the arbitrator |
| Superior court | DeKalb County Superior Court | 30 days after the decision; file the notice with the Board of Tax Assessors | $25 filing fee |
What evidence the board accepts
The Board of Tax Assessors must prove its value by a preponderance of the evidence, and a board may lower but not raise a real-property value on appeal. Ask the assessors for the records and comparable properties they used; they must provide them within ten business days at no more than 25 cents a page (O.C.G.A. §48-5-306(d)). Either side may demand the other’s witnesses and documents 10 days before the hearing. A certified appraisal dated within nine months of January 1, recent comparable sales and photos of condition issues are the strongest evidence.
DeKalb County questions
When is the DeKalb County appeal deadline for 2027?
45 days from the date printed on your 2027 annual assessment notice. DeKalb County sets its own mailing date, so there is no single county-wide deadline until notices go out; state law requires notices by July 1.
How do I appeal my assessment in DeKalb County?
File online at propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov, or send Form PT-311A (or a signed letter) to the DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department (Board of Assessors), DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, GA 30030. Choose a route and state your opinion of value.
Which appeal route should I choose?
Most homeowners choose the Board of Equalization: it is free and hears value, uniformity and exemption issues. A hearing officer is only for non-homestead property worth over $500,000. Arbitration requires a certified appraisal you pay for.
What do I pay while the appeal is open?
If bills go out before the appeal ends, you are billed on the lesser of last year’s value or 85% of this year’s (O.C.G.A. §48-5-311(e)(6)). The difference is refunded or billed with interest once the appeal is decided.
How do I contact the DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department (Board of Assessors)?
Mail: DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, GA 30030. Phone: 404-371-0841. Hours and walk-in details: dekalbcountyga.gov.
Does a successful appeal carry over?
Generally yes. A value lowered or kept through an appeal usually cannot be raised for the next two years, unless you skip the hearing without written evidence, appeal again, or make substantial improvements (O.C.G.A. §48-5-299(c)).
Check whether yours is over-assessed
Nearby counties
Fulton County · Rockdale County · Gwinnett County · Clayton County · Henry County · Cobb County · Newton County
- Georgia DOR County Property Tax Facts: DeKalb County (official directory of county tax offices)
- DeKalb Property Appraisal Department
- DeKalb Property Appraisal: Resources (forms, key numbers, important dates)
- DeKalb Tax Commissioner: Property Assessment
- Georgia DOR — Filing a Property Tax Appeal
- Georgia DOR — Property Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights
- Georgia DOR — Appeals Procedures manual (O.C.G.A. §48-5-306, §48-5-311, Rule 560-11-12)
- Georgia DOR — PT-311A Appeal of Assessment Form
- U.S. Census Bureau, county population estimates (2024) and county gazetteer (2024).