Texas Property Tax Protest
Over 50% of Texas homeowners who protest receive a reduction in their appraised value. The deadline is May 15, 2026. Check if yours is over-appraised in 30 seconds.
Evidence Packet $49 if over-appraised · No gap = no charge
89%
Harris County informal hearings that settled with a reduction
HCAD 2024 — of protests that went to informal hearing
$2,061
Avg. value reduction per settled Harris County informal hearing
HCAD informal hearings (2024) — not a guarantee
Free
Cost to file a protest in Texas
No filing fee — ever
2026 Texas Filing Deadline
Standard TX Deadline
All county appraisal districts
Late notice extension
If your Notice of Appraised Value arrives after April 15
Most major counties (Harris, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant) send notices in April. Filing is free and online via iFile — takes about 5 minutes to preserve your right to protest.
How TX Property Tax Protests Work
File your protest (Form 50-132)
Submit online via iFile (most counties) or by mail before May 15. This reserves your right to protest — you can add evidence later. Free, takes 5 minutes.
Request an informal hearing
After filing, call your county appraisal district and ask for an informal review. Bring (or email) your comparable sales evidence. Most counties schedule these within 2–4 weeks.
Present your comparables
Show the appraiser: 3–5 recent nearby sales with prices below your appraised value. PropGap's Evidence Packet formats these exactly as CAD staff expect to see them.
Settle or proceed to ARB
Most informal hearings result in a reduction offer. If you accept, done. If not, you escalate to a formal ARB hearing — same evidence, more formal process.
TX Legal Standard (§41.43 Unequal Appraisal): Your appraised value should not be higher than comparable properties in your area. You don't have to prove your home would sell for less — only that similar homes are appraised for less. This is often the winning argument.
Important TX risk to know: In rare cases, a county appraisal district may discover new information during the protest process (e.g., unpermitted improvements, updated square footage) and increase the appraisal. This is uncommon for well-documented properties but worth knowing before you file. Verify your assessor record is accurate before protesting.
TX Protest Success Rates by County
Collin County
success rate
Harris County
informal hearings (2024)success rate
Travis County
success rate
Fort Bend County
success rate
Denton County
success rate
Dallas County
success rate
Tarrant County
success rate
Bexar County
success rate
Harris County: 89% reflects informal hearings that settled with a reduction (HCAD 2024) — this is a subset of all filed protests. Across all protest outcomes (informal + formal + withdrawn), approximately 52% of Harris County residential protests result in some reduction. All other counties: est. from PTAD records (2023). Individual results vary. Not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Texas property tax protest deadline for 2026?
May 15, 2026 for most homeowners — or 30 days from the date on your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Check your notice carefully; some counties send notices late in April.
What's the difference between an informal hearing and a formal ARB hearing?
An informal hearing is a one-on-one meeting with a staff appraiser at your county appraisal district — no board, no formality, and most cases settle here. A formal Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing is a panel hearing that happens if you don't reach agreement informally. Start with informal: most counties resolve 60–70% of residential protests this way.
What is the unequal appraisal argument (§41.43)?
Under Texas Tax Code §41.43, you can protest based on unequal appraisal — meaning your property is valued higher than comparable properties in your neighborhood, even if your value is technically at market. This is often the stronger argument because it doesn't require proving your home would sell for less, only that similar homes are valued lower.
Do I need an attorney to protest in Texas?
No. Texas homeowners can represent themselves in both informal and ARB hearings. You don't need an attorney or a tax agent. Bring printed comparables — recent sale prices of similar homes — and the appraisal district staff will take it seriously. PropGap's Evidence Packet provides these in formatted, professional form.
Is there a filing fee to protest in Texas?
No. Filing a protest with your county appraisal district is free. You submit Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest) — online via iFile in most major counties, or by mail. There is no cost to request an informal hearing or ARB hearing.
How do I find my current appraised value in Texas?
Your county appraisal district sends a Notice of Appraised Value (typically in April). You can also look it up online: search "[your county] CAD" (e.g., "Harris CAD" → hcad.org). Your appraised value is the number you're protesting against.
What evidence does the appraisal district accept?
Recent sale prices of comparable homes (similar size, age, condition, neighborhood) are the most effective evidence. The appraisal district's own sales data is public — PropGap pulls these and formats them as a comparable sales grid that both informal hearing appraisers and ARB panels are accustomed to reviewing.
Pro Tip: Request the Informal Hearing First
After filing your protest, call your county appraisal district and specifically ask for an informal review before your formal ARB date. Most Texas CADs resolve 60–70% of residential protests informally — you walk in with your comparable sales printout, the appraiser reviews it, and you walk out with a lower value. No panel, no waiting. PropGap's Evidence Packet is formatted exactly for this conversation.
Is Your Texas Home Over-Appraised?
Enter your TX address. PropGap pulls recent comparable sales and shows how your appraised value compares — in about 30 seconds. Free to check.
Check My TX Appraisal FreeEvidence Packet $49 if over-appraised · No gap = no charge · Filing Packet $149
PropGap is a data research tool. County success rates are estimated from PTAD records (2023) and are not guarantees of individual results. Not legal advice. Consult an attorney or licensed property tax agent for your specific situation.