HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – With tax season in full swing, many Houstonians have gotten their property tax appraisals in the mail, and the deadline to file a protest is sneakily approaching!
Texas law guarantees your right to protest the value of your home, so here’s how you can fight to lower your dent in property taxes.
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How to get started
In Harris County, there are three ways to protest your appraisal with the Harris County Appraisal District.
- The first way is to mail in the protest form that comes with your tax appraisal notice.
- The second method, which is considered the easiest in many cases, is by filing your protest online using iFile. Your unique iFile number can be found on the upper right corner of the property value notice you receive in the mail.
- The third way is to use iSettle. With this method, you provide the value of your property in your opinion. The HCAD will verify your protest and review it compared to its various market parameters. You’ll then be notified if your protest is accepted or rejected. If you’re not satisfied with the HCAD’s decision, you can argue your case at a Formal Appraisal Review Board Hearing.
Fighting the county’s appraisal
Include images: Detailed photos of your home and the areas that reflect your protest can go a long way in proving your case. Visual evidence of your home’s condition and location are very important.
Contact a real estate agent in the area: Real estate agents know everything you need to consider when evaluating the value of your home. A quick chat with an agent can confirm that your taxes are fair or help you understand why they aren’t.
Speak with your neighbors: Remember, your neighbors are filing their property taxes too, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your taxes are fair compared to other members of your community. If your home is older, in a busier area or on a lower floodplain, you could negotiate a lower property tax.
Your deadlines
According to Ann Harris Bennett, the early protest deadline for homestead owners is April 30, or 30 days after the date the appraisal district sends the notice of appraised value—whichever date is later.
If you miss the early deadline, the regular protest deadline is May 15, although a later deadline may apply if your value notice is sent to you after May 1. In all cases, the deadline date will be available on the initial notice of your appraised value.
For more information, check out this article from last year’s deadline!