Texas Property Tax Appeal:
How to Fight Your Over-Assessment
In Texas, 60% of appeals succeed with an average savings of $1,400/year. Yet fewer than 5% of homeowners ever file. Here’s how to do it — and how Tax Ghost generates your formal appeal letter for $24.99.
Texas Property Tax Appeal — Key Facts
How to Appeal in Texas
Check your assessment notice
Your county assessor mails assessment notices — usually in spring. The notice shows your assessed value and the appeal deadline. In most states you have 30–90 days from the notice date.
Gather comparable sales
Find 3–5 similar properties in your neighborhood that sold recently at prices below your assessed value. Use Zillow, Redfin, or your county recorder's public records. The more recent and similar the sales, the stronger your case.
File your formal appeal
In Texas, you file with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). File Notice of Protest with your County Appraisal District (CAD) by May 15 (or 30 days after the appraisal notice, whichever is later). Hearing before the ARB is informal and evidence-based. File before May 15 (or 30 days after notice, whichever is later).
Present your evidence at the hearing
Show up with your comparables. Be calm and factual. You don't need a lawyer. Appeals boards are accustomed to homeowners representing themselves. Simply demonstrating that comparable properties sold for less than your assessment is often enough to win a reduction.
Expert tip for Texas
Texas has one of the highest property tax rates and protest rates in the nation. Even if you don't have comparables, showing up to your ARB hearing often results in a settlement.
Get your Texas appeal letter — $24.99
Formal appeal letter citing Tex. Tax Code § 41.01, addressed to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Evidence checklist and filing instructions included. PDF delivered in 60 seconds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I appeal my property tax assessment in Texas?
In Texas, you file an appeal with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The deadline is May 15 (or 30 days after notice, whichever is later). You can file yourself — no attorney required. File Notice of Protest with your County Appraisal District (CAD) by May 15 (or 30 days after the appraisal notice, whichever is later). Hearing before the ARB is informal and evidence-based.
What is the property tax appeal success rate in Texas?
Approximately 60% of property tax appeals in Texas result in a reduced assessment. The average annual tax savings for successful appeals is around $1,400.
What evidence do I need to win a property tax appeal in Texas?
The strongest evidence is 3–5 recent comparable sales in your neighborhood with sale prices below your assessed value. An independent appraisal is also very effective. You can find comparables on Zillow, Redfin, or your county recorder's public records.
What law governs property tax assessments in Texas?
Property tax assessments in Texas are governed by Tex. Tax Code § 41.01. Under this law, property must be assessed at fair market value — defined as what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction.
Do I need a lawyer to appeal my property taxes in Texas?
No. The vast majority of successful Texas property tax appeals are filed by homeowners without attorneys. You simply need to file your appeal before the deadline and present evidence (comparable sales) showing your property's market value is lower than the assessed value.