Property Taxes

Disputing Your Property Value

To challenge your appraised value, file a written protest with the appraisal district by May 31. The district has a protest form you may use, but any written notice is enough as long as it names the owner, identifies the property, and says you disagree with a decision the district made.

An independent Appraisal Review Board panel listens to each protest. Panel members are residents, not appraisal district employees.

If you think your value is too high, bring evidence for the panel to consider, such as the closing statement from a recent purchase or the sale prices of similar homes nearby that sold recently.

Homestead Exemptions

If you own your home on January 1 and live in it as your primary residence, the City exempts 15 percent of the homestead's appraised value from city property taxes, or the minimum amount set by state law if that is greater.

Homeowners who are 65 or older on January 1 can ask for an additional $40,000 senior exemption by applying with the appraisal district. Once the senior exemption is in place, your city tax amount is frozen and will not rise, even if your home's value goes up. You may also qualify for a disability or disabled veteran exemption. Contact your appraisal district for details:

• The eastern county's appraisal district: (555) 010-7719
• The western county's appraisal district: (555) 010-2833

Exemptions Filed Late

If the district finishes processing a late exemption ahead of the July certification of the tax roll, the correction will show up on the original tax bill. Otherwise, the taxpayer will receive a corrected statement once the application has been processed.

If the original bill went to your mortgage company, the lender will probably pay the larger amount; the City then refunds the overpayment once that payment is received.

If your application may not be processed by January 31, pay the amount shown on the original bill, or ask each taxing entity to calculate an estimated corrected bill for you.

Late charges will apply if no payment is made, even if the district sends the correction later.

Late Charges

Under state law, late charges can be waived only when the taxpayer was late because of something the taxing entity or the appraisal district did or failed to do. A payment dropped in a mailbox on January 31 that the Postal Service does not postmark until later does not qualify for a waiver.

What Happens If I Pay Late?

In February, the county tax office mails a delinquency notice that adds penalty and interest charges to the unpaid balance.

More penalty and interest are added for every month the bill stays unpaid.

Private attorneys retained to collect delinquent taxes may add a further percentage penalty to cover their fees, and if a delinquent tax lawsuit is filed, the taxpayer will also owe court costs.

For more information, contact your county tax office:

• The eastern county's tax office: (555) 010-5645
• The western county's tax office: (555) 010-5783

More Property Tax Information

• See the Budget and Tax Matters page for more details.
• Try the property tax estimator.

Property Tax Contacts

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