Here’s a stat that should make every Texas homeowner uncomfortable: fewer than 6% of Texas homeowners protest their property tax assessment each year. Yet among those who do, the success rate is over 70%.
That means the vast majority of Texans are paying whatever the county appraisal district tells them to pay — and many of them are overpaying by hundreds or thousands of dollars annually.
Are you one of them? Here’s how to find out.
5 Signs You’re Overpaying Property Taxes in Texas
1. Your Assessed Value Jumped 10% or More
When you receive your notice of appraised value in April, compare it to last year. Texas law caps the taxable value increase at 10% per year for homesteaded properties, but your appraised value (the market value the county assigns) can jump as much as they want.
If your appraised value increased significantly, it may have overshot the actual market. Appraisal districts use mass appraisal models that apply broad increases across neighborhoods. Your specific home might not have appreciated as much as the model assumes.
2. Neighbors’ Homes Sold for Less Than Your Assessment
This is the strongest signal. If comparable homes on your street or in your subdivision recently sold for less than your county’s assessed value of your home, you’re almost certainly overassessed.
How to check:
- Search your address on Zillow or Redfin
- Look at “recently sold” homes within 0.5 miles
- Filter for similar size, age, and bedroom/bathroom count
- Compare those sale prices to your assessed value
If 3 or more comps sold below your assessment, you have a strong case.
3. Your Home Has Condition Issues the District Doesn’t Know About
County appraisers typically don’t inspect the interior of your home. They rely on public records, aerial photos, and neighborhood-level data. That means they don’t know about:
- Foundation problems — cracks, shifting, settling
- Roof damage — age, leaks, missing shingles
- Outdated systems — old HVAC, electrical, or plumbing
- Water damage — past flooding, mold, moisture issues
- Deferred maintenance — anything that would reduce your sale price
If a buyer would pay less for your home because of these issues, your assessed value should reflect that. It probably doesn’t unless you’ve told the appraisal district.
4. You’re in a Flood Zone or High-Risk Area
Properties in FEMA flood zones, near industrial facilities, under flight paths, or adjacent to busy highways typically sell for less than comparable properties in quieter locations. Appraisal districts sometimes miss these nuances in their mass models.
If your home has a location-based disadvantage that reduces its market value, you may be overassessed.
5. You’ve Never Protested
If you’ve owned your home for several years and never filed a protest, there’s a strong statistical likelihood that your assessed value has drifted above fair market value. Appraisal districts tend to err on the high side — it’s in the county’s interest to collect more tax revenue, not less.
Homeowners who protest regularly keep their assessments in check. Those who don’t tend to see their values climb unchecked year after year.
The 95% Stat: Why Most Texans Are Overpaying
According to data from the Texas Comptroller, approximately 95% of Texas homeowners do not protest their property tax assessment in any given year. Of those who do protest:
- Over 70% receive a reduction
- The average reduction is 10-15% of assessed value
- On a median Texas home ($300,000), that’s $660-$990 per year in savings at a typical 2.2% tax rate
Multiply that by 5-10 years of not protesting, and many homeowners are collectively overpaying by $3,000-$10,000 over the life of their ownership.
How to Compare Your Assessment to Market Value
Here’s a simple 15-minute process to determine if you’re overassessed:
Step 1: Find Your Assessed Value
Go to your county appraisal district’s website and search your address. Note the 2026 Market Value (this is what the county thinks your home is worth).
Major county sites:
- Harris County: hcad.org
- Dallas County: dallascad.org
- Tarrant County: tad.org
- Travis County: traviscad.org
- Bexar County: bcad.org
Step 2: Pull 5 Comparable Sales
On Zillow, Redfin, or your county’s property search, find 5 homes that:
- Sold in the last 6-12 months
- Are within 0.5-1 mile of your home
- Have similar square footage (within 10-15%)
- Have similar age, beds, and baths
Write down each sale price.
Step 3: Calculate the Median
Sort your 5 comps by price and take the middle value. This is a reasonable estimate of your home’s actual market value.
Step 4: Compare
If the median comp sale is lower than your assessed value, you’re likely overassessed. The bigger the gap, the stronger your case for protest.
| Your Assessment | Median Comp Sale | Gap | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $340,000 | 3% | Borderline — worth protesting |
| $350,000 | $320,000 | 9% | Strong case — definitely protest |
| $350,000 | $300,000 | 14% | Very strong — expect a reduction |
Want to skip the manual work? Use our free property tax savings calculator to estimate how much a successful protest could save you.
How to Appeal Your Property Taxes in Texas
If you’ve determined you’re overpaying, here’s the process:
1. File a Protest by May 15, 2026
Visit your county appraisal district website and file a Notice of Protest online. This is free and takes about 10 minutes. You can also mail Form 41.44.
Important: Filing preserves your right to protest. You can always withdraw later if you change your mind. There is zero risk to filing.
2. Prepare Your Evidence
Gather your comparable sales, photos of any condition issues, and neighbor assessment comparisons. Organize them into a simple presentation — even a printed spreadsheet works.
3. Attend Your Informal Hearing
The appraisal district will schedule a phone or video call with an appraiser. Present your comps and target value. Most cases settle here.
4. Go to the ARB If Needed
If you don’t reach an agreement, you’ll have a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board. Bring three copies of your evidence and keep your presentation under 15 minutes.
What a Successful Protest Looks Like
Here’s a real example of how the math works:
- Home assessed at: $400,000
- Comparable sales show: $360,000 median value
- Protest result: Assessed value reduced to $365,000
- Reduction: $35,000 (8.75%)
- Tax rate: 2.2%
- Annual savings: $770
- 5-year savings: $3,850
And this compounds. Once your assessed value is reduced, future increases start from the lower base. A single successful protest can save you thousands over the years you own the home.
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Don’t Leave Money on the Table
The Texas property tax system is designed to let homeowners challenge their assessments. The protest process is free, the success rate is high, and the appraisal district cannot raise your value as punishment for protesting.
If you’ve never protested — or haven’t in a few years — check your 2026 assessed value now. Compare it to recent sales in your area. If there’s a gap, file your protest before May 15.
Your next steps:
- Check your potential savings with our free calculator
- Pull comps from Zillow or Redfin for your neighborhood
- File your protest online at your county appraisal district
- Attend your hearing with evidence in hand
If you want a turnkey solution, our $49 Texas Property Tax Appeal Packet includes professionally researched comparable sales, an equity analysis, and a hearing-ready presentation customized to your property. But whether you DIY or use the packet, the important thing is to file before May 15.
Every year you don’t protest is money you’re giving away.