Texas Property Tax Appeals Process

The process for filing a tax appeal in Texas can seem daunting at first, but it can be broken down into four main steps. You may follow these steps yourself and go through the process alone, or assign one of our expert team to manage the process for you via an Appointment of Agent agreement.

Step 1: File the Appeal

Make sure to file your protest (Property Tax Appeal) before the deadline for appeals. The deadline usually falls on May 15, or 30 days after you receive notice of the assessed value of your property, whichever date is later. To file an appeal, you must contact the appraisal district for your property, by filling in a Notice of Protest form.

Step 2: Study the Record Card

Each property assessed by the appraisal district in your county is assigned a record card, which contains details of the property including size, amenities and more. You must obtain a copy of your property’s record card and check all of the details held on it. Any errors should be noted as these are a good base for your protest.

Step 3: Establish the Value of Your Property

There are several approaches to establishing the value of a property in accordance with the Texas Property Tax Code. It may be beneficial to use a combination of these approaches when valuing your property. Your Tax Consultant will be able to advise and take action on the best options for you.

Step 4: Legal Hearings

Initially protests resolution is attempted at an Informal Hearing with a staff appraiser at the district appraisal office. Some appeals may be settled at the Informal Hearing with the staff member making an adjustment there and then. If an Informal Hearing does not provide the resolution you hoped for, you may take the protest to an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) Hearing, and further still through litigation with the courts. During the legal process you will have to attend hearings and provide evidence, unless you hire an agent to do this for you.

While it is possible to achieve results independently, the most successful protests are fought by qualified and experienced Tax Consultants. Our team here at Property Tax Relief of South Texas are experts in our field. By appointing us as your Agent for Tax Matters you are saving yourself time, money and stress, knowing you have experts fighting your case.