How to Protest Property Taxes in Texas (2026 Complete Guide)

Every spring, your county's Central Appraisal District (CAD) sends a Notice of Appraised Value. This tells you what they think your property is worth. If the value went up, your property taxes will go up.

Key fact: According to Texas Comptroller data and industry estimates, the majority of homeowners who present comparable sales evidence at their hearing receive a reduction. But only about 1 in 3 homeowners actually file a protest.

You should protest if ANY of these are true:

• Your appraised value increased from last year
• Your value seems higher than comparable homes in your area
• Your property has condition issues (old roof, foundation problems, etc.)
• Your CAD records have errors (wrong square footage, year built, etc.)
• You're missing exemptions you qualify for (homestead, over-65, veteran)

The deadline is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed — whichever is later. Check the date on your notice.

You can file online through your county's portal, by mail using Form 50-132, or in person at your CAD office.

Most people only protest on market value. But Texas law allows a second, independent ground: unequal appraisal (Section 41.43). This means your property is appraised higher relative to comparable properties — even if the absolute value is close to market.

We recommend filing on both grounds. If your market value argument is weak, the unequal appraisal argument can still win.

Strong evidence wins hearings. You need:

• Comparable sales: 3-5 recent sales of similar homes near you
• Appraisal ratios: Show that similar properties have lower appraisal-to-sale-price ratios
• Record errors: Any mistakes in your CAD record (sqft, year, features)
• Property condition: Photos of issues that reduce value

TaxRollback generates all of this automatically from public CAD data.

After filing, you'll be scheduled for an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. This is a short (5-10 minute) presentation to a 3-member panel. Present your evidence, answer questions, and the panel makes a decision.

If you disagree with the ARB decision, you have options:

• Binding arbitration: $500 deposit, independent arbitrator (refundable if you win)
• District court: More expensive, longer timeline