Protest Your Property Taxes in Austin
How to Protest Your Property Taxes in Texas (And Why You Should Do It Every Year)
It's that time of year again — appraisal notices are hitting mailboxes across the Austin metro, and if yours came in higher than expected, you are not stuck with it. Protesting your property taxes is one of the most underutilized tools Texas homeowners have, and the process is simpler than most people think.
Here's everything you need to know.
Why You Should Protest Every Year
The value assigned to your home by your local appraisal district is not calculated by someone walking through your front door. It's generated by a mass appraisal model — essentially a government algorithm that spits out values for every home in the county at once. It's imperfect by design.
About 45% of Texas home values come in over 100% of actual market value. Another 15–25% exceed 110% of market value. That means there's a very real chance you're being taxed on a number that's higher than what your home would actually sell for.
The odds of winning a protest? Between 53 and 80 percent. Those are better odds than most things in life, and the savings are real. On a $300,000 home, even a modest 4% reduction at a 2.7% tax rate puts over $300 back in your pocket — in year one alone.
There is also no downside. Your assessed value cannot be increased as a result of filing a protest.
Key Terms to Know Before You Start
Assessed Value — The number your taxes are calculated from. This is what you want to be as low as possible.
Market Value — What your home would sell for on the open market. Often used as the basis for assessment.
Homestead Exemption — If this is your primary residence, you may qualify for a reduction in your taxable value plus a 10% annual cap on how much your assessed value can increase year over year. If you haven't filed this yet, do it now.
Protest Deadline — May 15, or 30 days after your notice is mailed, whichever is later.
The Property Tax Calendar
Here's the timeline to keep in mind:
January 1 — The appraisal district sets your property value as of this date.
January 31 — Last day to pay prior year taxes without penalties.
May 15 — Deadline to file your protest.
July 25 — Appraisal roll is certified.
August/September — Tax rates are set.
October — Tax bills are mailed.
December 31 — Pay by this date to get a receipt for IRS purposes.
How to Protest: Step by Step
Step 1: Find your appraised value. Your Notice of Appraised Value will arrive in the mail. Hold onto it — it contains your E-FILE PIN, which you'll need to log in and file your protest online. If you haven't received it, contact your local appraisal district directly.
Step 2: File your protest online. All three major Austin-area counties allow online filing. The deadline is May 15.
Travis County: traviscad.org Williamson County: wcad.org Hays County: hayscad.org
Step 3: Build your case. Once your protest is filed, you'll have the opportunity to submit evidence. The strongest evidence includes comparable home sales in your neighborhood, photos of anything in your home needing repair, and contractor estimates for any needed work. The more you bring, the better your position.
Step 4: Watch your email. Many protests are resolved at the informal stage. The appraisal district will review your evidence and may send you a settlement offer to accept or reject — no hearing required. If you're happy with the offer, accept it. If not, move on to the next step.
Step 5: Request an Appraisal Review Board hearing. If you don't accept the informal settlement, you'll be scheduled for a formal ARB hearing with at least 14 days notice. This can be done virtually or in person. Bring your comps, your photos, and your estimates. Stay calm, be direct, and make your case. The script I share with clients goes something like this: explain that your goal is a fair value, present your comparable sales, state the number you're asking for, and thank the appraiser for their time. It works.
Not Sure If It's Worth Protesting?
I pull comps for my clients every year to help them decide whether a protest makes sense and what number to target. If you'd like me to take a look at your situation, I'm happy to help.
Request your free analysis here
One More Thing for Homeowners Over 65
If you're 65 or older, your school district (ISD) taxes are frozen — but your city, county, and MUD taxes are not. Protesting still matters and can meaningfully reduce those bills. It also helps keep surrounding assessed values from becoming inflated, which protects your neighbors too.
Property taxes are one of the biggest ongoing costs of homeownership in Texas. You have every right to challenge them, and the process is genuinely manageable. If you have questions or want a second set of eyes on your numbers, reach out — I've been doing this in Austin for over 20 years and I'm always happy to help.
