Homeowners can protest property taxes in Texas with their appraisal district each year to reduce property taxes. You should make it a yearly effort to protest your property value taxes. Protesting your taxes could save you several hundred to several thousand dollars over time.
Why Is Tax-assessed Value Different Than Market Value?
The tax-assessed value is what your county believes your property is worth. The county attempts to set its values at a market value. However, they do not evaluate comparables nor do they perform an individual market analysis on every home. The county simply values your home according to the area, not the house. Meaning, the value may be too high or too low, depending on the size, location, amenities, and condition of the specific home.
How Do you Determine your Market Value to Protest Property Taxes?
You can determine your home’s market by unlocking home sale prices by downloading the HAR app and assessing comparables in your neighborhood. You can also use our Property Valuation Tool to determine a rough estimate of your home’s market value. Contact Candice if you need help understanding market information, collecting information from neighbors who have recently purchased their homes, or contracting a company that specializes in assisting with tax assessor valuation protests.
Should you Appeal your Property Valuation?
If the market value on your home is lower than your tax assessed value, then you should appeal. If the market value is higher, then you should not appeal.
When Should you Receive your Property Valuation and How Long Do you Have to Appeal?
The County Appraisal Districts began mailing property valuations in early April. Homeowners have until May 15 (the date is extended if it falls on a holiday) or 30 days from the date they receive their valuation to appeal.
How to Protest Property Taxes
If you believe your property valuation is higher than the current market value, you should appeal your taxes. When people don’t appeal, the taxing authority accepts that their value is correct which affects all homeowners in a given area. By appealing the assessed value, we all help keep our real estate taxing authority valuations in line with market value.
- Click here to begin a Brazoria County property tax protest application.
- Click here to begin a Fort Bend County property tax protest application.
- Click here to begin a Galveston County property tax protest application.
- Click here to begin a Harris County property tax protest application.
- Click here to begin a Montgomery County property tax protest application.
After you have filed, it can take weeks for the Appraisal District to schedule your informal hearing.
At the hearing: The purpose of the informal hearing is for you to present your evidence and facts to support your claim that they have over-valued your property.
Present Your Evidence
The following information can be helpful to present at the hearing:
- Comparable Market Analysis: A comparable market analysis looks at Market Value and shows recent sales for homes that are similar to yours in size, age, location and type of construction. Use our website to unlock home sale prices and find comparables in your neighborhood.
- Documentation Regarding Your Home’s Condition: Do you have foundation issues? Plumbing problems? Anything that would adversely affect the Market Value of your home should be documented. Take photographs and bring them with you to your hearing.
- Documentation Regarding Your Home’s Location: Once again, anything that would adversely affect the Market Value of your home is evidence that you can use in your appeal. (ie: if home backs up to a busy street – consider printing off a Google map to document your location.)
- Recently Purchased Homes: If you purchased your home in the last several months, and the purchase price was lower than your appraised value, bring a copy of your settlement statement.
Things to Keep in Mind for the Day of your Hearing
- The Appraisal District is responsible for setting the appraised value, they have nothing to do with the tax rate.
- You are not going to the hearing to protest your tax rate or how much you are paying in taxes, you are only appealing the county’s assessed value of your home.
- Be polite and courteous.
- Bring an extra copy of your supporting documentation to leave with the county.