Last updated: September 2026
If your Notice of Appraised Value looks too high, Texas gives every homeowner the right to challenge it — no attorney required. Here's the actual process, start to finish, including what happens if the first hearing doesn't go your way.
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You generally have until May 15, or 30 days after your county mails your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later — to file a protest. Appraisal districts don't mail every notice on the same day, so the 30-day clock is the one that actually governs for most homeowners; check the date printed on your own notice rather than assuming May 15 applies. Our property tax calculator flags this deadline based on the date you enter, but the notice in your hand is always the authoritative source.
File Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest) with your county appraisal district — most counties also accept protests filed online through their appraisal district's website. You can protest the appraised value itself, unequal appraisal compared to similar homes, or the denial of an exemption. There's no fee to file, and no company needs to be hired to do this for you, though some homeowners choose to use a property tax consultant who works on contingency.
Before a formal hearing, most appraisal districts offer (or require you go through) an informal review with an appraisal district staff appraiser — a shorter, lower-friction conversation where you present your case directly. A meaningful share of protests settle right here: the appraiser may agree to lower the value on the spot if your evidence is solid, skipping the formal hearing entirely.
If the informal review doesn't resolve things, your case goes to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) — an independent panel of local citizens, not appraisal district employees, who decide contested values. ARB hearings typically run June through August. You're entitled to at least 15 days' written notice of your hearing date, and you can choose how to appear: in person, by phone, by videoconference, or by sworn written affidavit if you can't attend. Hearings are informal and typically run 15 to 20 minutes.
The strongest protests lean on hard comparables and documentation, not just an opinion that the number feels high:
The ARB's written order isn't necessarily the end of the road. Depending on your property, you have three further options, each with its own strict deadline:
| Option | Who qualifies | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Binding arbitration | Homesteads of any value; other properties up to $5 million | File with the Comptroller within 60 days of the ARB order, plus a deposit |
| SOAH appeal | Properties appraised over $1 million (excluding industrial) | Notice of appeal to the chief appraiser within 30 days; $1,500 deposit within 90 days |
| District court | Any property owner | File within 60 days of the ARB's written order |
Binding arbitration is the option most homeowners actually use — it's faster and cheaper than court, and your deposit is refunded if the arbitrator rules in your favor. Filing a district court appeal generally requires paying the undisputed portion of your taxes before the delinquency date, though courts can excuse this with documentation of financial hardship.
See how much a successful protest would actually save you.
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