Fitzgerald, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)
By AppealAlly Team · Published
The median Fitzgerald homeowner pays $1,191/year in property taxes. That is 3.19% of median household income. See how Fitzgerald compares and check your savings potential.
Key Takeaways
Appeal deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.Median home value: $99,000 in Fitzgerald.Median annual tax bill: $1,191.Tax burden: 3.19% of median household income in Fitzgerald.Potential savings: ~$121/year from a 10% reduction, or $363 over 3 years with the 299c freeze (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions).Filed with: Ben Hill County Board of Assessors (not the city).Free to file: the Board of Equalization can lower your value but cannot raise it above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal.
Fitzgerald Appeal Quick Facts
Appeal Deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of the assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Median Home Value: $99,000 (-12% below Ben Hill County median)
Median Annual Tax Bill: $1,191 (Census ACS 2024)
Tax Burden: 3.19% of median household income
Is your Fitzgerald property tax assessment too high?
The median home in Fitzgerald is valued at $99,000, and the typical homeowner pays about $1,191 per year in property tax (Census ACS 2024), based on Ben Hill County's 3.066% combined millage applied to 40% of fair market value after exemptions. That means the typical Fitzgerald homeowner spends 3.19% of household income on property taxes alone. Even though Fitzgerald home values fall below the Ben Hill County average, the tax burden here is significant relative to household income. A lower home value does not mean your assessment is automatically correct. Overassessments happen at every price point, and correcting one can meaningfully reduce your annual bill. At $99,000, Fitzgerald home values are 12% below the Ben Hill County median, 41% below Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 68% below the national median of $318,000.
How does Fitzgerald compare to other Ben Hill County cities?
What evidence matters for Fitzgerald appeals?
In a mid-size city like Fitzgerald, you should be able to find 3-5 comparable sales within Ben Hill County. Look for homes that sold in the last 12 months with similar square footage, age, and condition. If local sales are limited, expand your search to neighboring areas within the county. For the full evidence strategy, exemption details, and step-by-step filing instructions, see our Ben Hill County Property Tax Guide.
How much can you save in Fitzgerald?
Based on a combined tax rate of 3.066%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district. Three-year figures are estimates and apply only if your value is reduced; you can then keep saving for up to three years, subject to the statutory exceptions.
A 10% reduction on the median Fitzgerald home ($99,000 down by $9,900) would save approximately $121 per year, or $363 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) with the 299c value freeze.
At 3.19% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
File your appeal through Ben Hill County
Property tax appeals in Fitzgerald are filed with the Ben Hill County Board of Assessors. To appeal, submit a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Ben Hill County Board of Assessors: 113 South Sheridan St., Fitzgerald, GA 31750 | 229-426-5147 For the full appeal process and deadline details, see our Ben Hill County Property Tax Guide.
Based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates and Ben Hill County millage rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Fitzgerald property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Fitzgerald is $1,191 (Census ACS). If your assessed value is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you are paying more than that. Compare your assessed value to recent sales of comparable homes nearby.
Who do I contact to appeal my Fitzgerald property tax?
Appeals are filed with the Ben Hill County Board of Assessors, not at the city level. File a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
How much of my income goes to property taxes in Fitzgerald?
At the median, Fitzgerald homeowners pay 3.19% of their household income ($37,323/year) in property taxes. That is a significant burden -- a successful appeal directly increases your take-home.
How is my Fitzgerald property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Fitzgerald's median home ($99,000), the assessed value is $39,600. Multiply by Ben Hill County's millage rate of 3.066% to get your annual bill. Many Fitzgerald homeowners find that assessed values have climbed faster than actual sale prices. Comparing your value to 3-5 recent sales of similar homes is the quickest way to spot an overassessment.
Is it worth appealing a small overvaluation in Fitzgerald?
Yes. Even a $122 per year overcharge (from a $10,000 overvaluation at Ben Hill County's 3.066% rate) adds up to $366 over three years (estimated); if an appeal removes it, the 299c freeze can keep that saving for up to three years, subject to the statutory exceptions. The appeal is free to file, and the Board of Equalization cannot raise your value above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal.
Can my property tax go up if I appeal?
Losing at the Board of Equalization cannot raise your value, with one exception. Under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311(e)(9), the Board of Equalization, a hearing officer, or an arbitrator can lower your value but cannot raise it above the value the county assessors set. The exception is a value already frozen by an earlier appeal: on an appeal filed while that freeze is in effect, the Board is not capped and could raise the value. That limit applies to the deciding body; the county assessors can still make changes or corrections to your value when they review your appeal.