Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about property tax appeals and exemptions in Tarrant County.
A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge the assessed value of your home. If the Tarrant Appraisal District 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 Tarrant County can file an appeal — whether you live in Fort Worth, Arlington, Grapevine, Southlake, Keller, Mansfield, or anywhere else in the county. You do not need a lawyer, tax consultant, or any special qualifications. You can file yourself for free using the TAD online portal, by mail, or in person at 2500 Handley-Ederville Road, Fort Worth.
For Tarrant County in 2026, the deadline is May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after you receive your assessment notice, whichever is later. We recommend filing as early as possible to get a sooner hearing date with TAD.
You enter your Tarrant County address and we instantly analyze your property's assessed value against comparable recent sales in your neighborhood. 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 for TAD. You file the appeal yourself — 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. Comparable sales are the strongest evidence in a Tarrant County property tax appeal because they show what similar homes in your Fort Worth, Arlington, or suburban neighborhood actually sold for — which is the true market value.
After filing, TAD will offer an informal review or schedule an informal hearing — often within a few weeks. At the informal stage, you may be able to settle through TAD's online Value Negotiation tool or meet one-on-one with an appraiser. Many homeowners reach an agreement here. If not, you can proceed to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
No. You can attend by phone, use TAD's online Value Negotiation portal, or submit your evidence for a written decision. Many seniors find the phone or online option convenient — you don't need to drive to Fort Worth. When scheduling your hearing, simply request the phone or virtual option.
A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence. In Tarrant 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 — this applies whether you live in Fort Worth, Arlington, Keller, or anywhere else in Tarrant County.
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. For Tarrant County homeowners, this can save $200 to $500 or more per year.
Yes. These are separate processes with TAD 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.
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 the average Tarrant County homeowner who successfully protests saves $500 to $1,500 per year. With Tarrant County's effective tax rate near 2%, even a modest reduction in assessed value can produce meaningful savings. Some homeowners — especially in Southlake, Grapevine, and other higher-value areas — save significantly more. Our free analysis will show you your estimated savings based on actual comparable sales in your area.
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