Universal Guide

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The Texas property tax protest process is the same in all 254 counties. This universal guide walks you through every step — plus shows you how to find your specific county appraisal district.

Educational content only. This guide covers the general Texas protest process under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41. Each county's CAD sets its own specific deadlines, procedures, and requirements. Always confirm with your county appraisal district before filing.

Step 1: Find Your County Appraisal District

Every Texas county has a County Appraisal District (CAD) responsible for valuing all property in the county. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts maintains an official directory of all 254 Texas CADs with their websites, addresses, and phone numbers.

Texas Comptroller CAD Directory

Official resource from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Search for your county to get your CAD's website and phone number.

The Standard Texas Protest Process

This process applies to every Texas county under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41. Contact your specific CAD for county-specific deadlines and procedures.

1

Find Your County Appraisal District (CAD)

Every Texas county has its own appraisal district. Use the Texas Comptroller's online directory to find yours — it lists the website, address, and phone number for all 254 Texas CADs.

Texas Comptroller CAD Directory
2

Review Your Notice of Appraised Value

Your CAD mails a Notice of Appraised Value each spring (typically April–May). It shows your assessed value, applied exemptions, and your account number. If you haven't received one, search for your property on your CAD's website.

3

Know Your Deadline

Under Texas Tax Code §41.44, your protest deadline is the later of May 15 or 30 days after your notice was mailed. If that date falls on a weekend, it moves to the following Monday. Always confirm the exact deadline with your specific CAD.

Use the Deadline Calculator
4

File Your Protest

File before the deadline — online (through your CAD's website), by mail, or in person. You do not need all your evidence ready to file. Filing preserves your right to protest; you gather evidence after.

5

Gather Your Evidence

The most effective evidence is comparable recent sales of similar properties, photos of condition issues, and any CAD record errors (wrong square footage, room count, etc.).

Build Your Evidence Checklist
6

Attend Your Hearing

Most counties start with an informal conference with a CAD appraiser. If unresolved, you can request a formal ARB (Appraisal Review Board) hearing. Bring 3 printed copies of all evidence.

Generate a Protest Script

Universal Evidence Tips

Comparable sales are the strongest market value evidence — find 3–6 recent arm's-length sales of similar properties within 0.5–1 mile.

Use your CAD's own property search tool to find comparables — panels find it hard to dispute their own data.

Unequal appraisal (your property assessed at a higher ratio than similar ones) can be argued using the CAD's own records.

Photograph all condition issues from multiple angles — foundation cracks, roof damage, water intrusion, dated systems.

Your recent purchase price (if below the appraised value) is one of the strongest evidence types available.

Verify your CAD record data — square footage, year built, room counts, and quality grade are often incorrect.

Bring 3 printed copies of all evidence to every hearing: one for you, one for the appraiser or panel, one for the record.