If you haven’t received your property tax notice yet, it’s on the way. And even if your home’s value didn’t shoot up this year, this is still your reminder to check it, understand it, and protest it if needed.
Here’s the deal: Texas has the 7th highest property tax rate in the nation, and 30–60% of homes are over-assessed. Yet, fewer than 30% of homeowners protest their values. Protesting can help lower your taxes now and protect you from big jumps later.
Why Protest?
Even if your notice didn’t come with a flashy increase, the county is allowed to raise your appraised value up to 10% each year (thanks to the homestead cap). So, if your assessed value is already inflated, they can keep inching up on that number. Filing a protest helps reset the baseline.
How Property Taxes Work
Your annual property taxes =
(Assessed value – exemptions) x tax rate
- Assessed value is set in spring
- Tax rates are finalized later in the year
- You can review your home’s value on your county’s appraisal district website
- Make sure your Homestead Exemption is applied!
Tax Value ≠ Market Value
The county doesn’t come inside your home or pull comps like an agent would. They estimate value based on your area, not your specific property. That means:
- Homes with outdated interiors or needed repairs often get overvalued
- Homes with unique layouts or locations (like on a busy street) may not be accurately assessed
Protesting is your chance to tell the full story.
How to Protest
You can file your protest yourself (for free) or hire a pro. I’ve used protest companies for years and am happy to refer you. A few worth checking out:
- Five Stone Tax Advisors
- Home Tax Shield
- Texas ProTax
- Gill, Denson & Company
Filing Deadline:
May 15 is the general deadline to file in most counties. For homestead properties, notices usually go out by April 1.
What You’ll Need
If you protest yourself, gather evidence:
- A Comparable Market Analysis (I can help with this!)
- Photos and notes about your home’s condition
- Documentation of anything that affects value (foundation, location, etc.)
- Recent purchase price, if applicable
You’ll likely start with an informal hearing. If you’re not happy with the result, you can request a formal hearing or work with a protest company to take it further.
Still Have Questions?
This can feel like a lot. I’m happy to point you toward tools or professionals who can help, or provide recent comps if you’d like to build your own case. Just reach out.
Let’s make sure you’re not overpaying—and that your home’s value reflects reality, not a formula.
