In Texas, the protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district sends notice of the assessed value, whichever is later. The appraisal district is required to send notice if the appraised value increased by more than $1,000 from the prior year’s value. If May 15th falls on a weekend, the deadline is the following business day.

To have Home Tax file your 2024 protest, sign up by 12 PM on Wednesday, May 15 (at the latest). Click the Sign Up Now button at the bottom of the page to get started today.

First, subtract the property’s final appraised value (the value Home Tax achieves after the hearing) from the original appraised value on the notice sent out by your appraisal district. Then, multiply this difference by your total tax rate. The tax rate for the previous year is used because current year rates are not yet established. The result is your tax savings.

For example, if the original appraised value is $300,000, the final appraised value achieved by Home Tax is $280,000, and your total tax rate is 2.5 percent, property tax savings are $500.

$300,000 - $280,000 = $20,000 ===> $20,000 x 2.5% = $500

Our fee is 35% of your total tax savings. In this example, our fee is $175.

===> $500 x 35% = $175

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*If there are no tax savings, there is no fee*

For homestead properties capped at 10% over last year's appraised value, the 35% fee is limited to the reduction in appraised value below the capped value, since reductions short of the capped value don't impact your property tax bill.

Your mortgage lender will adjust your escrow.

You have the right to equal and uniform tax assessments. This means that your tax assessed value should not be more than other properties that are similar or comparable to yours.

You have the right to receive all tax exemptions or other tax relief for which you apply and qualify.

You have the right to notices of changes in your property value or in your exemptions.

You have the right to know about a taxing unit's proposed tax rate increase and to have time to comment on it.

Unless your property qualifies for special appraisal, such as for agricultural land, you have the right to have it taxed on its January 1 value.

With a homestead exemption, your tax jurisdiction allows a percentage reduction from your appraised value. In addition, a homestead exemption puts a 10% limit on increases to your property's taxable value assessment for any year, plus any new building permit value for remodeling or additions.

When you closed on your home you may have signed or received a homestead exemption form while filling out paperwork at the title company. If the form was not sent to your appraisal district, we can guide you on how to file your homestead exemption.

The completed application and required documentation are due on April 30 of the tax year for which you are applying. A late homestead exemption application, however, may be filed up to two years after the delinquency date, which is usually February 1. For example, property taxes for 2022 became delinquent on February 1, 2023, so the deadline to file a late application is February 1, 2025. You should pay your taxes as billed and on time. The county will refund the difference once your homestead exemption is approved.

One of the main benefits of the over 65 exemption is that it freezes, or puts a ceiling on, your current level of school property taxes. Your school property tax level may be reduced, but it may not increase. It often provides additional exemptions for property taxes as well.

The over 65 homestead exemption qualifies you for a $10,000 homestead exemption on your school taxes, which typically makes up a significant portion of your total tax rate. This is in addition to the $25,000 homestead exemption available to all homeowners. This additional exemption reduces your property taxes on your homestead residence.