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1. Why have a property tax?

Properties are appraised and taxed to provide services such as schools, fire and police protection, public parks and other public benefits. Property owners thereby absorb their fair share of the cost in proportion to the amount of money their individual properties are worth.

The property tax is part of a well-balanced revenue system. It is a more stable source of money than sales and income taxes because it does not fluctuate as much during recessions. When the community spends tax dollars on better schools, parks, and so on, property values generally rise.

2. What authority does the City have to Conduct a Reassessment?

The Code of Virginia requires all property be assessed for taxation at 100% of market value. The law also requires all property be assessed on an annual basis (every year). The city of Roanoke notifies property owners each January of assessed values.

Annual assessments keep pace with changes in the market. During a reassessment, all property values are examined and adjustments are made where necessary. Guaranteeing assessment at market value assures taxes are distributed equitably and uniformly.

3. What is a market value?

Please see our Market Place page.

4. How is Property Appraised?

Please see our Property Appraisal Process page.

5. What cause property values to change?

A property's value can change for many reasons. The most obvious is the property changes. For example, a bedroom, garage, or swimming pool is added, or part of the property is destroyed by flood or fire.

The most frequent cause of a change in value is a change in the market. When market value changes, so does assessed value. People make value by their transactions in the marketplace. It is important to remember the assessor does not create this value. The assessor simply has the legal responsibility to study those transactions and appraise your property accordingly.

6. What is the role of the computers in the assessment process?

A property's value can change for many reasons. The most obvious is the property changes. For example, a bedroom, garage, or swimming pool is added, or part of the property is destroyed by flood or fire.

The most frequent cause of a change in value is a change in the market. When market value changes, so does assessed value. People make value by their transactions in the marketplace. It is important to remember the assessor does not create this value. The assessor simply has the legal responsibility to study those transactions and appraise your property accordingly.

7. Can the assessment on my property be changed even if the assessor has not been inside my property?

To make a proper assessment on a building, it is desirable for the assessor to see the inside and the outside of the property. The assessor keeps records on the physical characteristics of each property in the city of Roanoke. Even though the assessor may have been unable to go through your property, the assessment will still be reviewed, based on the existing records and the sales of similar properties.

8. Will I penalized if I don't let the assessor in when an inspection is requested?

No. However, when an interior inspection is not allowed, the assessor will attempt to update the records by looking at the property from the outside and using any other available information. To ensure an accurate assessment, it is to your advantage to allow the assessor inside your property when an inspection is requested.

9. Will my assessment go up if I repair my property?

Please see our Repairing / Maintaining Your Property page.

10. How can my assessment change when I haven't done anything to my property?

General economic conditions such as interest rates, inflation rates, supply and demand, and changes in tax laws, will influence the value of real estate. As property values change in the market place, those changes must be reflected on the assessment roll.

11. Do all assessments change at the same rate?

There are differences between individual properties and between neighborhoods. In one area, the sales may indicate a substantial increase in value in a given year. In another neighborhood, there may be no change in value, or even a decrease in property values.

Different types of properties within the same neighborhood may also show different value changes. For example, one-story houses may be more in demand than two-story houses, or vice-versa. Older homes in the same area may be rising in value more slowly than newer homes.

There are numerous factors to be considered with each property, which will cause the values to differ. Some of the factors affecting value are location, condition, size, quality, number of baths, basement finish and garages, among others.

12. Do all assessments change at the same rate?

There are differences between individual properties and between neighborhoods. In one area, the sales may indicate a substantial increase in value in a given year. In another neighborhood, there may be no change in value, or even a decrease in property values.

Different types of properties within the same neighborhood may also show different value changes. For example, one-story houses may be more in demand than two-story houses, or vice-versa. Older homes in the same area may be rising in value more slowly than newer homes.

There are numerous factors to be considered with each property, which will cause the values to differ. Some of the factors affecting value are location, condition, size, quality, number of baths, basement finish and garages, among others.