Texas Property Tax Protest by County

Texas protest hub: May 15, 2026 deadlines, Form 50-132, §41.461 evidence exchange, informal vs ARB steps, and county guides for Harris, Dallas, Travis, and more.

What is a property tax protest in Texas?

A protest is your formal disagreement with the appraisal record—usually the market value your county assigned as of January 1. You file a Notice of Protest (typically Form 50-132) with your Central Appraisal District, not the tax office that mails the bill. Many homeowners select both market value and unequal appraisal so they are not boxed into one argument.

Who can protest Texas property taxes?

Any property owner—individuals, trusts, and LLCs—can protest their own property. You can represent yourself or hire an agent; an attorney is optional for most residential cases. Tenants generally do not protest owner-assessed real estate unless a lease assigns that right.

When is the Texas property tax protest deadline for 2026?

For most homeowners the filing deadline is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later. Confirm the mail date printed on your notice and keep an online filing receipt.

How do I protest property taxes in Texas?

Review the notice for sketch and exemption errors, gather closed comparable sales around January 1, file Form 50-132 with your CAD before the deadline, attend informal review if offered, and present the same evidence at the Appraisal Review Board if the value is still too high. Protestly does not file for you.

What evidence does a Texas ARB actually use?

Boards respond to closed sales near your home, adjusted for time, size, and condition, plus a single concluded market value. Unequal-appraisal grids help when similar CAD accounts are assessed lower. Photos and repair estimates matter when condition differs from the mass model. Tax-rate complaints do not.

Informal review vs. Appraisal Review Board (ARB)

Most Central Appraisal Districts offer optional informal review before a formal ARB hearing. Treat informal meetings like mini-hearings: same comps, same §41.461 response, same one-page value conclusion. Outcomes vary — if staff will not move, present the identical packet at the ARB rather than debuting new evidence for the first time in the hearing room.

§41.461 evidence exchange (Texas Tax Code)

After Form 50-132 is on file, you can request the information your CAD plans to introduce at hearing. Review those comps for submarket or product-type mismatches, then upload supplemental sales before the portal deadline on your account. Responding to the district’s packet in writing is usually stronger than saving your evidence for the ARB alone.

Texas county protest guides

Harris County: /texas/harris-county-property-tax-protest

Dallas County: /texas/dallas-county-property-tax-protest

Tarrant County: /texas/tarrant-county-property-tax-protest

Bexar County: /texas/bexar-county-property-tax-protest

Travis County: /texas/travis-county-property-tax-protest

Collin County: /texas/collin-county-property-tax-protest

Denton County: /texas/denton-county-property-tax-protest

Fort Bend County: /texas/fort-bend-county-property-tax-protest

Montgomery County: /texas/montgomery-county-property-tax-protest

Kaufman County: /texas/kaufman-county-property-tax-protest

Williamson County: /texas/williamson-county-property-tax-protest

Galveston County: /texas/galveston-county-property-tax-protest

Brazoria County: /texas/brazoria-county-property-tax-protest

Hidalgo County: /texas/hidalgo-county-property-tax-protest

Cameron County: /texas/cameron-county-property-tax-protest

El Paso County: /texas/el-paso-county-property-tax-protest

FAQ

What is the Texas property tax protest deadline for 2026?

May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed — whichever is later. File Form 50-132 with your Central Appraisal District.

Which Texas counties does Protestly cover?

We publish in-depth guides for Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, Bexar, Collin, Denton, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Kaufman, Hays, Brazoria, and Comal counties, plus resources for all Texas counties.

Do I need a lawyer to protest in Texas?

No. Texas homeowners can represent themselves at informal review and ARB hearings with organized comparable sales evidence.