Homeowners · Property Taxes

Protest Your Property Taxes

Adam Timothy Group · Austin, TX

Paying taxes due is only fun in a game of Monopoly. In real life, taxes add to other costs of living and for many can become a real financial burden — especially in Texas.

If you're moving from a high income tax state, this is often a surprise. Texas has been cited as having the 7th highest median property taxes and 14th highest state sales tax rate in the country. We may not have income taxes, but we sure do have taxes.

While you can manage sales taxes directly through spending, once you buy your home, property taxes are ad valorem — they follow any upward trend in the market. Same home, higher taxes. However, the more you know, the more you can control.

1.80%
Overall TX Rate
Average effective property tax rate statewide
~2.3%
Austin Metro
What many Texans actually pay on assessed value

Property tax brings in a significant amount of revenue for most local governments. The funds are most often used to pay for schools, roads, police and fire departments, emergency response services, libraries, parks, and other public works services.


What's on Your Notice of Appraised Value

Every year, Austin–Round Rock MSA property owners whose market value has increased by at least $1,000 over the prior year will receive a Notice of Appraised Value. This notice contains three important values:

Three Values That Determine Your Taxes
  • Market value — The value based on what your property would sell for as of January 1.
  • Assessed value — The reduced value of your property based on limitations provided by having a homestead or other exemptions.
  • Taxable value — The assessed value minus any exemption amounts. This is the value used to calculate your property taxes for each taxing unit (school district, water district, etc.).

Your Right to Protest

If you believe the market value of your property is incorrect, you have the right to protest that value. By law, property owners who wish to file a protest must do so before May 15 or within thirty days after a notice of appraised value is delivered. The exact deadline depends on your county, but working with a professional is highly recommended.

Common Reasons to Protest

  • Overvalued compared to comparable homes — Your assessed value doesn't align with what similar properties actually sold for.
  • Errors in the assessment — Incorrect square footage, bedroom/bathroom count, or other property details.
  • Missing exemptions — Senior exemptions, disabled veteran status, surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty, or homestead exemptions that were never applied.

File Your Protest by County

Select your county to access protest filing information directly from your county appraisal district:


Things Worth Knowing

Nice to Know

The State of Texas has no state property taxes. All property taxes are assessed and collected at county and local levels.

Good to Know

The Texas Tax Code, Section 33.06, allows taxpayers 65 years of age or older to defer their property taxes until their estates are settled after death.

Need to Know

To get an exemption, you must file for it — and it doesn't cost anything. The Texas Comptroller's publication Property Tax Exemptions offers a short summary of the exemption provisions.


Appealing your property tax assessment is a must to attempt to gain a bit of relief from the very real pain of taxes. The more you know, the more you can control.

Need Help Protesting Your Taxes?

Contact us for a connection to a reputable protest service. We may also have discount codes that could reduce your cost to protest.

Connect With Our Team
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Paying taxes due is ony fun in a game of Monopoly. In real life, taxes add to other costs of living and for many can become a burden financially.

In Texas, this is especially the case, and often a surprise for those moving from hig income tax states. Texas has been cited as having the 7th highest median property taxes and 14th highest state sales tax rate in the country.  We may not have income taxes, but we sure do have taxes! While you can manage sales taxes directly through spend, once you buy your home, property taxes are ad valorem and therefore follow any upward trend in the market. Same home >> Higher taxes. However, the more you know, the more you can control.

Property tax brings in a significant amount of money for most local governments. The funds are most often used to pay for schools, roads, police and firemen, emergency response services, libraries, parks and other public works services provided by local governments.

The overall rate for property taxes in Texas is 1.80%.  Texans pay up to about 2.3% of assessed value for our homes and investment properties. That can add up, especially given the strength of our market. Appealing your property tax assessment is a must to attempt to gain a bit of relief from the very real pain of taxes

Every year, Austin Roundrock MSA property owners whose market value has increased by at least $1,000 over the last year will receive a Notice of Appraised Value. This notice differs somewhat based on the County but in general contains three important values:

Market value: This is the value based on what your property would sell for as of January 1.
Assessed value: This is the reduced value of your property based on limitations provided by having a homestead or other exemptions.
Taxable value: This is the assessed value minus any exemption amounts. It is the value used to calculate your property taxes for each taxing unit (for example, the school district, the water district, etc)

If you believe the market value of your property is incorrect, you have the right to protest that value. By law, property owners who wish to file a protest must do so before May 15 or within thirty days after a notice of appraised value is delivered. The deadline to file your protest for the 2023 protest season depends on the county but working with a professional is highly recommended.

Reasons to protest your assessment include items such as overvalued when compared to comparable homes, errors in the assessment such as sq ft, and missing exemptions including senior, disabled veteran status, surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty, or homestead exemptions.

Contact us today for a connection to a reputable protest service. We may also have discount codes that could reduce your cost to protest.

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Property Tax Protest Information by County

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NICE TO KNOW: The State of Texas has no state property taxes. All property taxes are at county and local levels.

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GOOD TO KNOW: The Texas Tax Code, Section 33.06, allows taxpayers 65 years of age or older to defer their property taxes until their estates are settled after death.

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NEED TO KNOW: To get an exemption, you must file for it. And this does not require you to pay anything. The Texas Comptroller’s publication Property Tax Exemptions (PDF) offers a short summary of the exemption provisions.

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