Challenge an appraisal
Texas Property Tax Protest Guide
Prepare a Texas property-tax protest with the right deadline, evidence, informal review strategy, and appraisal review board hearing steps.
Last reviewed August 3, 2026. Educational guidance; verify current requirements with the official authority.
Start with the deadline
The appraisal notice and applicable law determine the protest deadline. File on time even when you are still gathering evidence; a late protest may lose ordinary review rights.
Choose the grounds
Common grounds include excessive appraised value, unequal appraisal, incorrect property description, denied exemption, ownership errors and other actions affecting the property. Select every ground that genuinely applies.
Build an evidence packet
Organize evidence around the specific issue rather than submitting a large unstructured file.
- 1Review the appraisal district evidence and property record.
- 2Select comparable properties or sales with clear adjustments.
- 3Document condition, damage, access, location or factual errors.
- 4Prepare a short written explanation and requested value.
- 5Keep copies of everything submitted.
Informal meeting and ARB hearing
An informal review may resolve the matter before a formal hearing. If not, present concise evidence to the appraisal review board, answer questions directly and preserve the written order for any further appeal.
After the decision
Read the order carefully and note deadlines for arbitration, district-court appeal, SOAH review when available, or other remedies. Paying taxes by the required deadline may still be necessary while an appeal continues.