What kinds of property tax protest services can homeowners use?

Property tax protest help falls into three jobs: you file with official forms, you buy a self-serve evidence packet and still file yourself, or you hire a firm that files and appears for a share of tax savings. Protestly is the middle option: a flat-fee packet for Texas, Florida, and Georgia. It does not file protests or attend hearings. Fees below were read from each company’s public site on 2026-09-06 and can change.

What kinds of property tax protest services exist?

Property tax protest help is DIY filing, a paid evidence packet you file yourself, or a contingency firm that appears for a share of savings. Protestly is a flat $29.99 comps packet for Texas, Florida, and Georgia and does not file. AppealDesk publishes $49 nationwide. Smart Protest publishes $79 or 20% agency in Texas. Ownwell publishes 25% in Texas. O’Connor publishes half of first-year savings. Outcomes are not guaranteed.

How do the models compare on cost, filing, and evidence?

What does the homeowner pay? DIY with the appraisal district: No vendor fee. You spend time gathering comps and filling official forms.

What does the homeowner pay? Contingency protest firm: Ownwell’s public 2026 cost guide states a 25% Texas contingency fee with no minimum. O’Connor’s protest-services page states you pay half of first-year tax savings, with no flat fee unless they reduce taxes.

What does the homeowner pay? Self-serve evidence packet: Protestly charges a flat $29.99 one-time packet fee. AppealDesk’s homepage states a $49 one-time packet. Smart Protest’s homepage states $79 one-time for an analysis packet.

Who files the protest? DIY with the appraisal district: You file with the CAD, VAB, or BOE using the jurisdiction’s form (Texas Form 50-132 is the Comptroller notice of protest).

Who files the protest? Contingency protest firm: The firm files and typically appears. O’Connor states it files the protest and attends informal and ARB hearings. NTPTS states it submits Form 50-132 for Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County properties.

Who files the protest? Self-serve evidence packet: You file. Protestly, AppealDesk, and Smart Protest’s $79 packet option all state the customer files; Protestly does not contact the district for you.

What evidence do you get? DIY with the appraisal district: You assemble closed sales, condition photos, and an equal-and-uniform set from public records, following Comptroller hearing guidance.

What evidence do you get? Contingency protest firm: The firm prepares evidence as part of representing you. Public pages describe comps, informal negotiation, and hearing attendance rather than a customer-owned PDF you keep regardless of a contract.

What evidence do you get? Self-serve evidence packet: Protestly delivers a hearing-ready PDF with matched comps, a market-value conclusion, and a protest statement. AppealDesk describes comps, a county filing guide, and a cover letter. Smart Protest describes a PDF packet, comp grid, narrative, and one-page hearing brief.

Where does it work? DIY with the appraisal district: Any county where you can file the official protest or appeal yourself.

Where does it work? Contingency protest firm: Varies by firm. NTPTS’s site lists Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant. Ownwell and O’Connor publicly market Texas protests (O’Connor also discusses other property types). Confirm the county before you enroll.

Where does it work? Self-serve evidence packet: Protestly currently supports Texas, Florida, and Georgia. AppealDesk states all 50 states and 3,100+ counties. Smart Protest’s homepage is Texas-focused.

Published offers retrieved 2026-09-06

Protestly (Self-serve packet): $29.99 one-time homeowner packet; no success fee Coverage: Texas, Florida, Georgia Who files: You file; Protestly does not appear Source: https://protestly.io/pricing

AppealDesk (Self-serve packet): $49 one-time packet; site states no percentage of savings Coverage: All 50 states (homepage claim, 2026-09-06) Who files: You file; AppealDesk states it does not attend hearings Source: https://www.appealdesk.com/

Smart Protest (Hybrid (packet or agent)): $79 one-time analysis packet, or 20% of annual tax savings for agency protest Coverage: Texas (homepage, 2026-09-06); CAD + MLS data claimed Who files: Packet: you file. Agency: their experts handle the ARB Source: https://smartprotest.com/

Ownwell (Full-service contingency): 25% Texas contingency; blog states no upfront and no minimum fee Coverage: Texas (cost guide dated 2026-04-29) Who files: Ownwell files and monitors annually per that guide Source: https://www.ownwell.com/blog/property-tax-protest-companies-cost

O’Connor & Associates (Full-service contingency): Half of first-year property tax savings; page states no fee unless they reduce taxes Coverage: Texas protests marketed on poconnor.com (retrieved 2026-09-06) Who files: O’Connor states it files and attends informal and ARB hearings Source: https://www.poconnor.com/property-tax-protest-services/

North Texas Property Tax Services (Full-service contingency): Contingency (“only pay if you win”); percentage not published on the homepage retrieved 2026-09-06 Coverage: Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties Who files: NTPTS states it files Form 50-132 and negotiates Source: https://ntpts.com/

Who this comparison is for

Homeowners who are deciding whether to file themselves, buy a packet, or hire a protest company. It is not a ranked “best companies” list and it does not score unpublished results.

How this comparison was evaluated

We used each company’s public pricing and “who files” statements plus the Texas Comptroller protest guide. We did not use star ratings, invented success rates, or fees that were not on the retrieved pages. TaxStand, Citizens Tax Protest Project, Texas Protax, My Texas Property Tax, and Gill Denson were named in research notes but not independently retrieved on 2026-09-06, so they are omitted from the fee table until a primary page is logged.

Who may prefer a contingency firm

Owners who want someone else to file Form 50-132, attend informal review and the ARB, and who accept sharing a published fraction of first-year savings. That convenience is the product. Read the agent appointment (Form 50-162) and any multi-year clause before you enroll.

Who may prefer Protestly

Owners in Texas, Florida, or Georgia who will file themselves and want a flat $29.99 comps packet instead of a percentage of savings. Protestly does not represent you. If you need an agent at the hearing, a contingency firm is the matching job.

Who may prefer DIY with no vendor

Owners who will pull CAD records, closed sales, and condition proof themselves. The Comptroller’s protest page lists photos, repair estimates, sale documents, and equal-and-uniform calculations as typical evidence. Cost is your time only.

Questions to ask before you pay

Does the fee apply if the value does not drop? Does it cover ARB only, or arbitration and district court? Which counties are in scope? Who owns the evidence if you cancel? Can you still speak at the hearing? Re-check the competitor’s current contract; this page is not a substitute for it.

Educational comparison only. Protestly is not a law firm, tax advisor, or protest agent. It does not file, appear, or guarantee a reduction. Competitor prices, coverage, and contracts change; confirm on the linked official pages before you pay. This is not legal or tax advice.

Search your address for a $29.99 evidence packet. Protestly does not file or appear at hearings. Related: /pricing, /texas, /blog/property-tax-protest-evidence-checklist, /guides/property-tax-protest-consultant-vs-diy.

FAQ

What are the main types of property tax protest services?

Three models: DIY filing with official forms, a paid evidence packet you file yourself, and a contingency firm that files and appears for a share of tax savings.

Does Protestly file my property tax protest for me?

No. Protestly sells a self-serve evidence packet. You file with your appraisal district, Value Adjustment Board, or Board of Equalization.

How much does a Protestly packet cost compared with other DIY tools?

Protestly’s published homeowner packet is $29.99. AppealDesk’s homepage (retrieved 2026-09-06) states $49. Smart Protest’s homepage states $79 for an analysis packet. Those figures are advertised prices, not a claim that any tool is cheapest in every county.

How much do Texas protest companies charge?

Public pages retrieved 2026-09-06: Ownwell states 25% of Texas savings with no minimum on its 2026 cost guide; O’Connor states half of first-year savings; Smart Protest states 20% for its agency option. NTPTS states contingency pricing without a homepage percentage. Always confirm the live contract.

Should I hire a company or protest DIY?

Hire if you want an agent to file and appear and you accept a success fee. Protest DIY or use a packet if you will file Form 50-132 (or the FL/GA equivalent) yourself and want to keep 100% of any tax savings.