Straight answers.
The questions Texas property owners actually ask, answered without hedging. If yours is not here, call us.
Will protesting raise my taxes?
No.
Under Texas Tax Code §41.47(b), the review board can't set your value higher than the amount the appraisal district already put on your notice, unless you ask for that yourself. In plain terms, the board can't punish you for protesting.
Your value either comes down or it stays where it was. That's the whole risk, and it's why sitting on your hands is rarely the safe choice people assume it is.
This protection applies to protests of appraised value. It does not extend to a protest concerning the denial or cancellation of an exemption or a special appraisal. Nothing here is legal advice. Confirm your situation with your appraisal district or an attorney.
What it costs
What do you charge?
One third of what we save you. There's no minimum fee, no filing fee and no per parcel charge.
What if the protest does not win?
You pay nothing at all. Not a reduced fee, not an admin charge. Nothing. One third of a zero saving is zero, and we don't have a floor to fall back on.
Why does the minimum fee matter so much?
Because many firms have one. A minimum fee is owed whether or not your protest succeeds, so owners routinely get invoiced for a protest that achieved nothing. Ask any firm you're considering whether they charge one, and get the answer in writing.
When am I billed?
After your appraisal district confirms the reduction in writing. Nothing is asked for up front.
Deadlines and the calendar
When is the protest deadline?
May 15, or 30 days after your appraisal district delivers your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. If that date falls on a weekend or a legal holiday it moves to the next business day. Confirm your specific date with your district.
When do notices go out?
Districts typically mail in April. The statute directs the chief appraiser to deliver notices by April 1 for residence homesteads and by May 1 for other property, or as soon after as practicable.
What if I missed the deadline?
Contact us anyway. The protest window may be closed, but you often still have options. A missing homestead exemption can usually be filed late and applied to prior years, which is sometimes worth more than a protest would have been. For a substantially over assessed property there may be a late correction available as well. We'll tell you honestly what can be done for this year, and make sure you're set up for the next one.
What if I already filed my own protest?
Reach out. If the window is still open, we can often still step in, take it over, and represent you the rest of the way.
How it works
Do I have to attend the hearing?
No. We handle it for you, start to finish. You don't need to take time off or show up anywhere.
How much of my time does this take?
Five to ten minutes. You send us the notice your county mailed you, confirm a few details, and sign one form. We handle the rest.
What actually wins a protest?
Preparation, and knowing the district. A protest is won by someone who understands how your appraisal district works and comes ready for it. Feeling that your bill is too high isn't something the board can act on, but the right case in the right hands is.
How will I know the result?
In writing, once the district responds or the hearing concludes.
Exemptions and the homestead cap
What is the 10 percent homestead cap?
With a residence homestead exemption in place, the assessed value used to calculate your taxes generally cannot rise more than 10 percent in a year. Without the exemption on file, there is no cap at all, so the value can climb unchecked year after year.
Do you charge to file a homestead exemption?
No, we don't charge to file it. It's a simple form filed with your county appraisal district, and we're glad to help you make sure yours is in place.
Can you help with exemptions?
If you're not sure whether you have a homestead exemption on file, ask and we'll help you figure it out. It matters, because without it your value isn't capped. It's filed with your county appraisal district.
Which exemptions exist?
The main ones are the general residence homestead, over 65, disabled person, disabled veteran, surviving spouse, and agricultural or open space valuation. Eligibility rules differ for each. Confirm yours with your appraisal district, which is the only body that can actually grant one.
Nothing on this page is legal or tax advice, and none of it is a determination that you qualify for anything. Exemption eligibility is decided by your appraisal district.
Still have a question?
Call us, or send your appraisal notice and find out what a protest could do for you.