Harford County, MD Property Tax Appeals: 45 Days

Harford County, Maryland homeowners appeal an assessment to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). A reassessment appeal must be filed within 45 days of the date on your Notice of Assessment, either online with the control number on the notice or with the Harford County assessment office in Bel Air. If you disagree with the result of the Supervisor's level hearing, you have 30 days from the date of the final notice to appeal to the county's Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board, which charges no fee.

Rules for the rest of Maryland are in our Maryland property tax appeal guide.

2026 deadline and where to file

Status as of October 10, 2026.

• Appeal of a Notice of Assessment: within 45 days of the notice date. SDAT says it tries to finish reassessment appeals by June 1 depending on volume.
• Petition for review: the first working day following January 1, in the two years your property is not valued at reassessment. Useful when events since your last assessment caused value to decline. If you miss a notice deadline, you may petition for the following year.
• Purchase between January 1 and June 30: appeal within 60 days of the transfer. The deed must be recorded.
• Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board: within 30 days of the final notice from the Supervisor's level hearing.
• Homeowners' Tax Credit: apply by October 1 each year; April 15 is better.

Harford's Appeal Board meets once a month, as needed, at the District Court Building, 4th floor, Bel Air. It hears appeals on real property values and assessments, credits for homeowners, and rejected exemption applications.

How assessments work in Harford County

In Maryland the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) values real property through local assessment offices, and customers normally receive a Notice of Assessment every three years showing the old market value and the new market value. The new value reflects current market influences and any changes to structures on the property. Harford County's Supervisor of Assessments runs the local office, and the county appeal board is mandated by Article 81, Section 3-103 of the Maryland Code. It has three regular members and one alternate appointed by the governor.

SDAT says an appeal is for when the estimate "does not accurately reflect what they believe to be its current market value." It lists things that are not relevant to the value under appeal: comparison to past values, the percent of increase, additional metropolitan costs, the amount of the tax bill, and services rendered or not rendered.

Exemptions and their deadlines

• Homeowners' Tax Credit: the credit is not automatic. You must apply and disclose your income. SDAT's deadline to apply is October 1 of each year, and SDAT says it is to your advantage to apply by April 15 so any credit due can be deducted from your bill. You need your prior year's federal income tax return and give SDAT permission to verify your income. Applications can be filed online. The next October 1 is October 1, 2027.
• Homebuyers: apply at least 30 days before your expected settlement date to receive any credit due at settlement.

Check SDAT's Homeowners' Tax Credit page for the income limits that apply to your tax year.

How to appeal, step by step

1. Read your Notice of Assessment. Note the notice date. You have 45 days from it. Compare the new market value with recent sales near you.
2. Gather evidence of current market value. Comparable sales, and any errors in the property worksheet (bathrooms, fireplaces, size). SDAT provides a free property worksheet and an Area Sales Listing before your hearing, including for written appeals.
3. File the first appeal. File online with the control number on your notice, or return the paper appeal form to the Harford County assessment office, 2 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Bel Air, MD 21014. Options are a written appeal, phone, video or in-person hearing. You may postpone your hearing one time.
4. Attend the Supervisor's level hearing. It is informal, usually about 15 minutes, with an assessor designated by the Supervisor of Assessments.
5. If you disagree with the final notice, appeal to the board. File with the Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board within 30 days of the final notice. SDAT says no fee is required and you can present any supporting evidence, regardless of what you presented at the first level.
6. If you missed the notice window, you may file a petition for review by the first working day following January 1 in the two years your property is not valued at reassessment.

What property taxes cost in Harford County

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024 five-year estimates) puts the median real estate tax paid by Harford County homeowners at $3,448 a year, against a median home value of $386,400. That is an effective rate of about 0.89% of home value (median tax divided by median value). It is a countywide figure: your own rate depends on your city, school district and special districts, so read the rate on your actual bill. About 81,092 homes in the county are owner-occupied. Source: Census Reporter, tables B25103 and B25077.

Check your value before you file

Start with the free Grove Hopper over-assessment check: enter your address and we compare your assessment to the data and tell you whether an appeal looks worth your time. If it does, we prepare your appeal documents. You review, sign and file them yourself with the Harford County assessment office (SDAT). We do not file for you or represent you, and we are not attorneys, accountants or a tax firm.

Contacts

• Harford County SDAT assessment office: Mary E.W. Risteau District Court Multi-Service Center, 2 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Bel Air, MD 21014 · (410) 836-4800 · hours 8:00 to 4:30
• Harford County Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board: meets monthly as needed at the District Court Building, 4th floor, Bel Air