If you've looked into property tax appeal services, you've probably seen two pricing models: a flat fee upfront, or a commission based on how much you save. Both have tradeoffs. Here's how to think through which one actually benefits you.
How commission-based services work
Most traditional property tax appeal agents charge 25–35% of your first-year tax savings, only collected if the appeal succeeds. The pitch is that you pay nothing unless they win. That sounds appealing — but the math often tells a different story.
If your taxes drop by $1,200 and the agent charges 30%, you pay $360. You keep $840. If the same appeal had cost a flat $89, you'd keep $1,111. The commission model pays for itself only when savings are very small — roughly under $300 per year.
The hidden incentive problem with commission pricing
Commission-based services are financially rewarded for overstating your potential savings. A larger promised reduction gets you to sign — even if the numbers are inflated. When the case goes to the Board and the evidence does not hold up, the appeal fails and you walk away with nothing.
The King County Board of Equalization sees this pattern constantly. Only 25% of appeals result in a reduction. A meaningful portion of the failures come from cases built on optimistic estimates rather than solid comparable sales data.
How flat fee pricing aligns incentives differently
With a flat fee, the service has no incentive to oversell your savings. The fee is the same whether your reduction is $500 or $3,000. That means the recommendation you get is based on whether the case is winnable — not on whether the projected savings are big enough to justify a commission.
At Appealo, if we don't think your appeal has strong evidence behind it, we tell you not to file. That's only possible because we're not paid a percentage of your savings.
When commission might make sense
Commission pricing can be worth it if your savings are expected to be very small and you're not sure the appeal will succeed. In that scenario, the 'no win, no fee' protection has real value. For most King County single-family homeowners with meaningful over-assessment, a flat fee saves money.
Side-by-side comparison
- Flat $89 fee on $1,000 savings: you keep $911
- 30% commission on $1,000 savings: you keep $700
- Flat $89 fee on $500 savings: you keep $411
- 30% commission on $500 savings: you keep $350
- Break-even point: savings of approximately $297 — above that, flat fee wins
What Appealo charges
Appealo charges a flat $89 to file your appeal, only collected if the Board approves a reduction. Your first property evaluation is free. If you purchased an evaluation ($15), the filing fee drops to $74. No commission. No percentage of savings.