- Before You Protest: Know what the notice is actually showing
- 1. Appraised value ≠ true market value
- 2. New homeowners have an additional incentive to protest
- 3. Texas’s unequal appraisal is often the better angle
- 4. It isn’t just about this year’s tax bill
- 5. The May 15 deadline comes fast
- A Smart First Year Checklist
Property taxes affect what you can comfortably afford and what you actually pay month to month. Even so, many Texas homeowners skip property tax protest season and miss a chance to lower their housing costs.
Texas does not levy an individual income tax, and property taxes here still rank among the highest in the country. That makes property taxes a big part of the real cost of owning a home in Texas.
Before You Protest: Know what the notice is actually showing
- Market value is what the home would likely sell for on the open market.
- Appraised value is the value assigned by the appraisal district.
- Taxable value is the amount left after exemptions are applied.
Make sure your exemptions are in place
If this home is your primary residence, make sure your homestead exemption is on file. In 2026, Texas school districts provide a $140,000 general residence homestead exemption. Homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled receive an additional $60,000 school district exemption. Also remember that appraisal districts set values, while local taxing units set tax rates.
1. Appraised value ≠ true market value
A common thing we hear is, if I reduce my assessment, will my home not be worth as much if I sell? Appraised value does not equal market value in real estate transactions. There is no risk in Texas for you to protest yearly, only upside.
2. New homeowners have an additional incentive to protest
County Appraisal Districts (CADs) do not have the resources to visit every home each year. Instead, they rely on mass appraisal models with large datasets. That means new homeowners might buy a home for $420K but get assessed at $465K because of bad comparisons or old information. Protesting in year 1 of owning a home is especially important to lowering future tax bills.
3. Texas’s unequal appraisal is often the better angle
In Texas, you can challenge not only market value, but also whether your home was appraised higher than similar homes nearby. That equal and uniform argument is real Texas law. It usually takes solid comparable properties and better evidence than a simple complaint that the number feels too high.
4. It isn’t just about this year’s tax bill
Lowering one’s tax bill through protesting can affect subsequent years as well. Some CADs, like Bexar, are starting to honor successful protest appraised values for the following year as well. For homeowners, this means extra incentive to protest as you can receive multiple years of benefit.
5. The May 15 deadline comes fast
The Texas property tax protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after notice, whichever comes later. As ubiquitous as advertising for Texas tax protests has become, most homeowners are still not aware of this date. Make sure you have a plan to file a protest, whether using a professional property tax agent like my firm Resolute, or protesting yourself, so you do not miss the deadline.
A Smart First Year Checklist
- Review the notice for wrong square footage, condition, or other property details.
- Compare your home with truly similar nearby properties.
- Make sure your homestead exemption is filed if this is your primary residence.
- Decide early whether you want to protest on your own or get professional help.
- Do not wait until the deadline week to start gathering evidence.
About the Author:
Ed Buser is the President of Resolute Property Tax Solutions based in Dallas, Texas. Resolute has managed property tax protests for thousands of homebuyers throughout the state of Texas since 2010. In 2025, our client success rate was 84% and our average tax savings per customer was $1,945 while maintaining a 4.8-star average on 1,200+ Google Reviews. If you want to learn more, you can visit ResolutePTS.com.
