Frequently Asked Questions

A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge the assessed value of your home. If TCAD 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. This is especially important in Travis County, where home values surged after 2020 and many appraisals haven't caught up with the cooling Austin market.

Any property owner in Travis County — whether you live in Austin, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, or anywhere else in the county — can file an appeal. You do not need a lawyer, tax consultant, or any special qualifications. You can file yourself for free using the TCAD E-File system online, by mail, or in person.

For Travis County in 2026, the deadline is May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after you receive your Notice of Appraised Value from TCAD, whichever is later. We recommend filing as early as possible to get a sooner informal meeting date.

You enter your address and we instantly analyze your property's TCAD-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 for the TCAD E-File portal. 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 property tax appeal because they show what similar homes actually sold for — which is the true market value. In Travis County's rapidly shifting market, recent comps often reveal that TCAD's mass-appraisal models are lagging behind what homes are actually selling for.

After filing through TCAD E-File, you'll be offered an informal meeting — often handled online through the portal, by phone, or in person at TCAD's office. At the informal, you present your evidence one-on-one with an appraiser. Many Travis County homeowners reach an agreement at this stage. If not, you can proceed to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).

No. TCAD offers online informal meetings through its E-File portal, as well as phone and in-person options. Many seniors find the online or phone options convenient — especially if driving into central Austin is difficult. When scheduling your meeting, simply choose the option that works best for you.

A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence. In Travis County, the general homestead exemption removes $100,000 from your assessed value for school district taxes, which can save over a thousand dollars per year given Austin's high tax rates. 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. In Travis County, where home values have climbed steeply, this ceiling alone can save hundreds of dollars per year — and often much more over time.

Yes. These are separate processes and you can do both. In fact, we recommend it. The appeal lowers your TCAD assessed value, and exemptions reduce it further. Combined, the savings in Travis County can be significant given the county's 1.98% effective tax rate.

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, which is especially valuable in Austin's shifting market.

Savings vary by property, but the average Travis County homeowner who successfully protests saves $800 to $2,500 per year — often more in high-value neighborhoods like Westlake, Tarrytown, or Barton Creek. Given Austin's elevated home values and 1.98% effective tax rate, even a modest reduction in assessed value can produce substantial annual savings. Our free analysis will show you your estimated savings based on actual comparable sales in your area.

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