How to Protest Your Property Tax Appraisal in Texas (May 15 Is Your Friend)
By The Boraak Team · September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer
To protest your Texas property appraisal, file a written protest with your county appraisal district by May 15 or 30 days after your notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later. Gather evidence that your home is worth less (recent comparable sales, photos of needed repairs, a recent appraisal), then try an informal settlement with the appraiser or present your case to the Appraisal Review Board. It's free.
Step 1: Read your notice of appraised value
In spring, your appraisal district mails a notice with the value it set for January 1. Check:
- The market value (does it look right?)
- Your exemptions (is your homestead there?)
- The property details (square footage, bedrooms, pool you don't have?)
Your exact protest deadline is printed on the notice.
Step 2: File by the deadline
Usually May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later (moved to Monday if it falls on a weekend). Most DFW districts let you file online in a few minutes. Choose the reasons that apply, usually "value is over market value" and/or "value is unequal compared with other properties."
Step 3: Build your evidence
What tends to work:
- Recent sales of similar nearby homes that sold for less (as close to January 1 as possible)
- Photos and repair estimates for real problems: foundation, roof, old HVAC
- A recent appraisal or a purchase price from a normal sale
- Errors in the district's records
What doesn't: "My taxes are too high" (true, relatable, legally irrelevant).
Step 4: Informal meeting, then the hearing
Many districts offer an informal review with an appraiser first, sometimes online. If you agree on a value, you're done.
If not, you present to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB), a panel of local residents. Be brief, polite and organized: a one-page summary and your comparable sales. You can also hire a property tax consultant, usually for a share of the savings.
Quick questions
What is the property tax protest deadline in Texas?
Usually May 15, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later. The exact date is on your notice.
Does it cost anything to protest?
No, filing a protest with the appraisal district is free.
Can protesting raise my value?
The ARB decides value based on the evidence, and in practice protests are aimed at lowering it. Come prepared with evidence either way.
Ready to look around?
See what similar homes are listed for →Sources
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and numbers change; check with a Texas professional for your situation.