Can I File a Texas Property Tax Protest?
Yes. Every Texas property owner has the legal right to protest their property's appraised value every year. You don't need a lawyer, a consultant, or any special qualifications. If you own property in Texas - residential, commercial, or land - you are eligible to file.
You can protest even if:
- Your appraised value didn't increase this year
- You protested last year
- You previously received a reduction
- You purchased your home recently
Valid Reasons to Protest
You don't need to prove the appraisal district made a mistake to file a protest - but having a solid reason strengthens your case. The most common grounds include:
Your Home Was Mass-Appraised
Your local appraisal district estimates the value of every property in the county using automated models. These mass appraisals rely on public records like square footage, lot size, and bedroom count. They can't account for individual characteristics that reduce value, such as foundation issues, a dated interior, or proximity to commercial noise.
Your Property Records Contain Errors
Appraisal district records are wrong more often than you'd expect. Common mistakes include:
- Incorrect square footage
- Wrong number of bedrooms or bathrooms
- Wrong lot size
- Incorrect year built
- Missing condition issues
Any of these errors can inflate your home's appraised value. You can check your property records on your county appraisal district's website.
Your Home Is Valued Higher Than Comparable Properties
Texas law requires appraisal districts to value properties consistently. If similar homes in your area are assessed lower than yours, that's a strong basis for an unequal appraisal protest - one of the most effective legal arguments available to Texas homeowners.
Your Home Has Condition Issues
Structural damage, deferred maintenance, flood damage, or other condition problems that reduce your home's market value are valid protest grounds - especially if the appraisal district's records don't reflect them.
When Is the Deadline?
The deadline to file a property tax protest is May 15 or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed - whichever is later. The exact date is printed on your notice. For more detail on all property tax deadlines, see our Texas property tax deadline guide.
What Happens After You File?
Once you file, you'll go through the formal protest process: evidence exchange, an informal review with appraisal district staff, and (if needed) a hearing before the Appraisal Review Board. For the complete step-by-step walkthrough, see our Texas property tax protest guide.
Not sure if you want to handle it yourself? Read about the pros and cons of filing your own protest vs. hiring a consultant.
Let Ballard Property Tax Protest Help
Convincing the ARB that your home is overvalued can be challenging, especially without experience presenting formal evidence. Ballard Property Tax Protest handles every step of the process on your behalf - and you don't pay unless we reduce your taxes.