Frequently Asked Questions

Reassessment is the process of re-determining the value of property or land for tax purposes.

Periodic reassessments are required by law. The Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 2 states, "All assessments of real estate and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value, to be ascertained as prescribed by law."  King William County is required to reassess all real property at least every 4 years per Section 70-45 of the King William County Code (Ordinance 02-21 adopted March 8, 2021).

The purpose of property tax reassessment is to insure every property is valued fairly and to realign those values with values of other kinds of property which are assessed annually, such as personal property, utilities, and mobile homes. The Code of Virginia requires that all property be assessed at market value. Because market value changes over time, periodic reassessment is required.

For detailed information, see the Code of Virginia, Chapter 32 - Real Property Tax, specifically Articles 5-7.  

A reassessment will result in a new value being established for your property. This new value will replace the current value on your property and will be the basis used for determining the amount of Real Estate Tax owed. Please remember that an increase/decrease in property value does not automatically mean an increase/decrease in the amount of tax owed.

The last reassessment took place in 2020 and was invalidated by the Board of Supervisors in early 2021 due to numerous discrepancies. The last valid reassessment took place between 2014 and 2015. Those results went into effect on January 1, 2015. The 2015 reassessment encompassed over 11,000 parcels with a total value of more than $1.5 billion.

1. The County is divided into smaller neighborhoods for purpose of market comparison.
2. Each property is visited by a field inspector who verifies data and collects additional data including photographs. The field review is done with the homeowner if they are at home.
3. Data collection is entered into a mass appraisal system and accuracy validated.
4. Neighborhood sales, land values, yearly appreciation trends, and other data are analyzed throughout the process.
5. When reassessment is complete, property owners will be notified. Hearings with the appraisers will be held if requested.
6. Property owners who continue to disagree with the reassessment results may appeal to a Board of Equalization appointed by the Circuit Court.

The professional appraisal firm, Pearson's Appraisal Services, Inc., has been contracted by King William County to perform real estate value assessments of every property in the County.

Project Manager - Fred Pearson, Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, Certified Professional Assessor

Project Supervisor - Randy Willis, Professional Assessor

Field Appraisers - David Baldwin, Michael Casey, and Joseph Harper

Clerical & Data Entry - Miranda Berry