Travis County
Property Tax Guide
Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD)
Contact Your CAD
Always verify this link is current at your CAD's official website before filing.
Important: Verify all deadlines and procedures with TCAD at traviscad.org or 512-834-9317. 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 Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD).
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 TCAD website and compare to your opinion of market value.
- 3
File a protest online at traviscad.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
- HOA documents if restrictions affect value
Evidence Tips for Travis County
- Austin values rose dramatically in 2021–2022 but have cooled. Use current data.
- TCAD is known for aggressive valuations; unequal appraisal is a strong argument.
- Condominiums and townhomes have unique comp challenges. Use unit-to-unit comparisons.
- A licensed appraiser's report carries significant weight with TCAD and the ARB.
About Travis County Property Taxes
Travis County is home to Austin, the Texas state capital and one of the fastest-growing major cities in the country. The county's residential market is highly varied, ranging from dense urban neighborhoods near downtown and the university to established mid-century single family areas, newer master-planned suburbs in the north and south, lakefront properties along Lake Travis and Lake Austin, and high-density condominium and townhome developments throughout the city core. No single Austin-wide trend tells the full story for any individual homeowner.
Austin property values surged dramatically between 2020 and early 2022, and TCAD appraisals in many neighborhoods followed that run-up aggressively. Since mid-2022 the market has softened in several sub-markets, and homeowners whose assessments reflect peak pricing rather than current conditions may have a meaningful case. Whether your assessed value tracks today's market or the prior peak is often the right place to start when evaluating a protest.
Protest Preparation Tips
Organizing your evidence before filing will make the informal hearing process significantly smoother.
- Pull your Notice of Appraised Value from TCAD. Your account number is on it and you will need it to file online.
- Look up your property at traviscad.org and verify recorded square footage, year built, and property class. Errors in these fields directly affect your assessed value.
- For single family homes, focus comparable sales on your immediate neighborhood or subdivision using the most recent data available. A gap between your assessed value and current market conditions is the core of a market value argument.
- For condominiums and townhomes, use unit-to-unit comparables within the same complex or a comparable nearby building rather than single family sales, which reflect a different market segment.
- If you have obtained an independent appraisal or a licensed inspection report, include it as supporting documentation. TCAD reviewers and the ARB both give substantial weight to licensed appraisals.
Building Your Evidence
TCAD is known for active appraisals, and both market value and unequal appraisal arguments can be effective depending on the property and neighborhood.
- Unequal appraisal is often a strong path in Travis County. Search TCAD's own database for similar nearby properties assessed at a lower rate per square foot than yours. This argument uses TCAD's own numbers and does not require third-party sale price data.
- For a market value argument, recent closed sales showing comparable properties selling below your assessed value are the primary evidence. Focus on the past 6 to 12 months and properties as close in size, age, location, and condition as possible.
- A licensed appraisal report carries significant weight at both informal TCAD hearings and ARB hearings. If your property type is difficult to comp with public data alone, a licensed appraiser's report may be the most effective single piece of evidence.
- Condition issues such as foundation movement, drainage problems, or deferred maintenance should be documented with photographs, contractor estimates, or an inspection report.
Local Verification Reminder
TCAD's filing deadlines, online protest platform, required evidence formats, and hearing procedures are subject to change each protest season. Always confirm the current process directly at traviscad.org or by calling 512-834-9317 before you file.
Austin's market has shifted considerably since the 2021 to 2022 peak. Making sure your comparable sales and market data reflect current conditions rather than prior peak pricing is one of the most important steps before your hearing.
Helpful Next Steps
- Look up your property at traviscad.org and verify square footage, year built, and property class
- File before the deadline and save your confirmation for your records
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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