Montgomery County
Property Tax Guide
Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD)
Contact Your CAD
Always verify this link is current at your CAD's official website before filing.
Important: Verify current deadlines with MCAD at mcad-tx.org or 936-756-3354. 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 Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD).
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 MCAD website and compare to your opinion of market value.
- 3
File a protest online at mcad-tx.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 Montgomery County
- The Woodlands market is premium. Use same-subdivision comps for best results.
- Lake-front and golf-course properties have unique adjustment considerations.
- Check for correct lot size and improvements data in MCAD records.
- Document any flood zone or drainage district issues affecting value.
About Montgomery County Property Taxes
Montgomery County stretches north of Houston from The Woodlands on its southern edge through Conroe and Lake Conroe to rural and lake communities well into the Piney Woods region. The Woodlands is one of the most recognized master planned communities in the country, with a residential market that consistently commands premiums over surrounding areas. Conroe and Spring offer more varied price points, while the Lake Conroe corridor includes lakefront and lake view properties with their own distinct valuation dynamics.
This geographic range means MCAD is appraising very different property types under the same county umbrella. A home in The Woodlands bears little resemblance, from a protest evidence standpoint, to a rural acreage parcel on the county's northern edge or a lakefront lot on Lake Conroe. The strongest comparables are always drawn from the same subdivision or immediate area, not from county wide trends.
Protest Preparation Tips
Before filing your protest, having the following organized will make the hearing process smoother.
- Have your Notice of Appraised Value ready. Your MCAD account number is printed on it.
- Look up your property at mcad-tx.org and verify lot size, square footage, and improvement details. Lot size errors are a common issue, particularly on larger rural and lake area parcels.
- For properties in The Woodlands, use same-village or same-neighborhood comparables rather than broader Woodlands area averages.
- For lakefront or golf course properties, note any access classification, frontage, or view characteristics that MCAD may or may not have recorded accurately.
- Document any drainage district assessments, flood zone classifications, or deed restrictions that affect the property's market value.
- Photograph any condition issues that reduce the home's value.
Building Your Evidence
For properties in uniform master planned communities like The Woodlands' villages, unequal appraisal is often the most direct path. Search MCAD's own database for homes in the same village with similar square footage and year built that are assessed at a lower rate per square foot. If those homes exist, that disparity is your evidence under Texas Tax Code Section 41.43 and does not require any sale price data.
For lakefront, rural, or more varied properties, recent closed sales of genuinely comparable homes are the core of a market value case. Lakefront and golf course properties require comparables with similar access and frontage. A non-waterfront comp is not a reasonable substitute and appraisers will discount it. If your lakefront property is assessed well above recent sales of similar waterfront homes, that gap is the foundation of a market value protest.
Local Verification Reminder
MCAD's protest deadlines, online portal, required documentation, and hearing formats should be confirmed directly at mcad-tx.org or by calling 936-756-3354 before you file.
Procedures can change year to year, and confirming current requirements before your deadline is worth the extra few minutes.
Helpful Next Steps
- Look up your property at mcad-tx.org and verify lot size, square footage, and improvement details
- File before the deadline and keep 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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