Dallas County
Property Tax Guide
Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD)
Contact Your CAD
Always verify this link is current at your CAD's official website before filing.
Important: Always verify current procedures with DCAD at dallascad.org or 214-631-0910. This is educational content only, not legal, tax, or appraisal advice.
Typical Protest Deadline
May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later.
This is the general rule. Always confirm the exact deadline directly with Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD).
Estimate Your Specific Deadline
Enter your notice mail date for a personalised estimate.
General Filing Steps
- 1
Receive your Notice of Appraised Value (typically mailed April–May).
- 2
Review the assessed value on the DCAD website and compare to your opinion of market value.
- 3
File a protest online at dallascad.org, by mail, or in person at the CAD office before the deadline.
- 4
Gather comparable sales data and any evidence of property condition issues.
- 5
Attend your informal hearing with a CAD appraiser.
- 6
If unresolved, request a formal ARB (Appraisal Review Board) hearing.
- 7
Accept the final value or pursue binding arbitration / district court appeal.
Commonly Required Documents
- Notice of Appraised Value (or your CAD property account number)
- Recent comparable sales (within 0.5–1 mile, similar size/age/condition)
- Photos documenting any property condition issues
- Recent appraisal or licensed inspection report (if available)
- Repair estimates for documented damage
Evidence Tips for Dallas County
- Use DCAD's online search tool to find comparable properties at similar assessed values.
- Focus comparables within the same neighborhood code or subdivision.
- Unequal appraisal is often easier to prove than market value. Pull DCAD's own data.
- Check for measurement errors. DCAD square footage is sometimes incorrect.
About Dallas County Property Taxes
Dallas County is home to one of the most diverse real estate markets in Texas, spanning the urban core of Dallas and a large ring of suburban cities including Garland, Irving, Mesquite, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, and Farmers Branch. The Dallas Central Appraisal District manages appraisals across this wide range of property types, from urban condominiums and townhomes to historic single family neighborhoods and newer suburban subdivisions on the outer edges of the county.
Because conditions vary so much across DCAD's coverage area, the most useful evidence for a protest will almost always be specific to your neighborhood or subdivision. What matters is what comparable homes near yours have been assessed at, and how that compares to your own assessment.
Protest Preparation Tips
A little preparation before your hearing can make a real difference in the outcome.
- Have your Notice of Appraised Value ready. Your DCAD account number is included on the notice.
- Search dallascad.org for your property and verify square footage, year built, and neighborhood code. Errors in these fields can directly affect your assessed value.
- Pull DCAD's own assessed values for similar properties in your neighborhood code or subdivision to build an unequal appraisal argument.
- Take photographs of any condition issues that affect the property's market value.
- Gather recent comparable sales data if you plan to argue market value, and note the source for each sale.
Building Your Evidence
DCAD organizes properties by neighborhood codes and subdivisions, which gives you a useful framework for finding comparables.
- For an unequal appraisal argument, search DCAD's database for homes in the same neighborhood code with similar square footage and age that are assessed at a lower value per square foot than yours. This is a self-contained argument using DCAD's own numbers.
- For a market value argument, recent closed sales from real estate data sources or a licensed appraiser's report can be effective. Focus on sales within roughly half a mile, similar in size, age, and condition.
- Check DCAD's recorded square footage for your property. Measurement errors are not uncommon, and correcting one can produce a direct reduction.
- Condition issues such as foundation movement, roof damage, or deferred maintenance can support a reduction but typically need documented evidence beyond photographs alone.
Local Verification Reminder
DCAD's filing deadlines, online protest portal, required forms, and evidence submission options can change from season to season. Always confirm the current process directly at dallascad.org or by calling 214-631-0910 before you file your protest.
Verifying the process before your deadline prevents procedural surprises and ensures your filing counts.
Helpful Next Steps
- Search dallascad.org to check your square footage, year built, and neighborhood code
- File before the deadline and save your confirmation
Sources & Last Verified
This county guide is prepared for general educational purposes using publicly available property tax information, county appraisal district resources, and Texas property tax guidance. Property tax deadlines, forms, protest procedures, and local requirements can change. Always confirm important details directly with your county appraisal district or a qualified professional.
See something outdated or incorrect? Contact us with the county name, page URL, the information that needs correction, and an official source link if available.
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