Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about property tax appeals and exemptions in Collin County.
A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge the assessed value of your home. If CCAD appraised your home too high, you may be paying more property tax than you should. Texas Tax Code Section 41.44(a)(1) gives every property owner the right to protest their appraised value.
Any property owner in Collin County can file an appeal — whether you're in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, Wylie, Murphy, or any other city in the county. You do not need a lawyer, tax consultant, or any special qualifications. You can file yourself for free using the CCAD online appeals system, by mail, or in person.
For Collin County in 2026, the deadline is May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after you receive your assessment notice, whichever is later. CCAD typically mails notices in April. We recommend filing as early as possible to get a sooner hearing date — Collin County's rapid growth means the docket fills up fast.
You enter your address and we instantly analyze your property's assessed value against comparable recent sales in your area. If we find evidence that you're over-assessed, we prepare a complete appeal package: a formal appeal letter, comparable sales evidence, and step-by-step filing instructions. You file the appeal yourself through CCAD — we handle the hard part.
Our property tax analysis is completely free. If you choose to have us prepare your appeal documents, our fee is 30% of your first-year tax savings — and only if your appeal succeeds. If you don't save money, you pay nothing. This is called a contingency fee and there is zero risk to you.
A comparable sale is a recently sold property that is similar to yours in size, age, location, and features. In fast-growing Collin County suburbs like Frisco and Prosper, recent sales data is especially powerful evidence because values shift quickly — CCAD's mass appraisal can easily lag actual market reality.
After filing, CCAD will schedule an informal review with an appraiser — often within 2 to 4 weeks. Many Collin County homeowners settle at this stage. If not, you can proceed to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
No. CCAD offers phone and video hearing options, and many protests are settled entirely through evidence submission online. Seniors and homeowners with mobility concerns often prefer the phone option.
A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence. In Collin County, the general homestead exemption removes $100,000 from your assessed value for school district taxes, which can save hundreds of dollars per year. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence.
If you are 65 or older, you qualify for an additional $10,000 exemption on top of the homestead exemption, plus a school district tax ceiling that freezes your school taxes at the amount you paid the year you turned 65 or applied. Given Collin County's high home values, this can save $400 to $700 or more per year for seniors.
Yes. These are separate processes and you can do both. In fact, we recommend it. The appeal lowers your assessed value, and exemptions reduce it further. Combined, the savings can be significant for Collin County homeowners.
If your appeal does not result in a reduced assessment, you owe nothing — that is our No Savings, No Fee guarantee. Your payment method is never charged unless your appeal succeeds. You can also try again next year with updated comparable sales data.
Savings vary by property, but Collin County homeowners who successfully protest often save $700 to $2,000 per year. Collin County has some of the highest average home values in Texas, so even a modest percentage reduction translates to real dollars. Our free analysis will show you your estimated savings based on actual comparable sales in your neighborhood.
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