Texas Property Tax Protest Deadlines Guide
Understanding when and how to file your property tax protest is critical. This guide explains how the protest timeline works in Texas.
How Property Tax Protest Deadlines Work in Texas
In Texas, the property tax protest deadline is tied to when you receive your notice of appraised value from your county's appraisal district. Texas Tax Code establishes a filing window that begins when the appraisal district mails your notice and runs for a specific period after that date.
The key principle is that your protest deadline is based on the date printed on your notice of appraised value. This is not a single fixed date for the entire county—individual notices may be mailed on different dates, which means different property owners can have different protest deadlines.
Because appraisal districts mail notices in batches over several weeks, the exact deadline for your property depends on when your specific notice was sent. Always check the date on your notice and calculate your filing window from that date.
Notice Dates and Protest Timelines
Each spring, Texas appraisal districts send property owners a notice of appraised value. This notice includes the district's estimate of your property's market value and the deadline by which you must file a protest if you disagree.
General Timeline
- 1Appraisal district mails notices — Districts typically mail notices in the spring, but exact dates vary by district and year.
- 2Property owner reviews notice — Your notice includes the proposed appraised value and the deadline to file a protest.
- 3File protest before deadline — You must file your protest by the deadline shown on your notice. Filing late forfeits your right to protest for that tax year.
- 4ARB hearing scheduled — After filing, you receive a hearing date where your case is presented to the Appraisal Review Board.
We intentionally do not publish specific deadline dates here because they change every year and vary by district and individual notice. Always refer to the date printed on your notice of appraised value for your specific deadline.
Houston-Area Appraisal Districts
The Greater Houston area is served by multiple appraisal districts. Each operates independently with its own notice schedule, protest procedures, and hearing timelines.
| County | Appraisal District | Abbreviation | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Harris County Appraisal District | HCAD | Harris County → |
| Fort Bend County | Fort Bend Central Appraisal District | FBCAD | Fort Bend County → |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery Central Appraisal District | MCAD | Montgomery County → |
| Galveston County | Galveston Central Appraisal District | GCAD | Galveston County → |
| Brazoria County | Brazoria County Appraisal District | BCAD | Brazoria County → |
Tips for Meeting Your Protest Deadline
Check your mail promptly
Your protest window starts when the appraisal district mails your notice. Don't let your notice sit unopened—the clock is already running.
Note the deadline on your notice
Your notice of appraised value includes the specific deadline for filing a protest. Mark this date and act before it passes.
File early when possible
Filing early gives you and your consultant more time to prepare evidence and schedule your ARB hearing at a convenient time.
Work with a consultant
A property tax consultant like Rainbolt & Co can file your protest on your behalf and ensure nothing is missed before the deadline.
Don't Miss Your Protest Deadline
Let Rainbolt & Co handle your property tax protest. We file on time, prepare your evidence, and attend the hearing on your behalf.