Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about property tax appeals and exemptions in Denton County.

What is a property tax appeal?

A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge the assessed value of your home. If Denton CAD 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.

Who can file a property tax appeal in Denton County?

Any property owner in Denton County can file an appeal — whether you're in Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Little Elm, The Colony, Highland Village, Frisco (Denton County portion), or any other community in the county. You do not need a lawyer, tax consultant, or any special qualifications. You can file yourself for free.

What is the deadline to file a protest?

For Denton County in 2026, the deadline is May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after you receive your assessment notice, whichever is later. Denton CAD typically mails notices in April. We recommend filing as early as possible to get a sooner hearing date.

How does ClaimEngine work?

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 Denton CAD — we handle the hard part.

What does it cost?

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.

What is a comparable sale (comp)?

A comparable sale is a recently sold property that is similar to yours in size, age, location, and features. Comparable sales are the strongest evidence in a property tax appeal because they show what similar homes actually sold for — which is the true market value Denton CAD should be using.

What happens after I file my protest?

After filing, Denton CAD will schedule an informal review with an appraiser — typically within a few weeks. Many protests settle at this stage through evidence review. If not, you can proceed to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board.

Do I have to attend the hearing in person?

No. Denton CAD offers phone and video hearing options, and many protests are resolved through written evidence submission. Seniors often prefer the phone option for convenience.

What is a homestead exemption?

A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence. In Denton 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.

What is the Over-65 exemption?

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. This can save $300 to $600 or more per year for Denton County seniors.

Can I file an appeal and apply for exemptions at the same time?

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.

What if my appeal does not succeed?

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.

How much can I save?

Savings vary by property, but Denton County homeowners who successfully protest often save $500 to $1,800 per year. Our free analysis will show you your estimated savings based on actual comparable sales in your area.

Is my information secure?

Yes. We use bank-level encryption for all data. Your payment information is processed by Stripe and never stored on our servers. Your personal data is protected by Row Level Security in our database — only you can access your information.

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