How to Protest Your Property Taxes, and Why you should do it.

Each year, it's a priority I make as a realtor, fellow investor and property owner to help homeowners protest their property taxes.  It is free to do, and you should be doing it to help save some money on your taxes.  Here’s your step-by-step guide to doing it right.

Step 1: Look Up Your Property’s Assessed Value 

• Go to your county appraisal district website and search for your property, this is public information.
• Check your 2025 assessed value. Did the value fluctuate? 

Step 2: Check Your Mortgage & Escrow

• Log into your mortgage account and review how much you’re escrowing for taxes and insurance. If you don't have a mortgage, then don't have an escrow account.
• If your taxes increase, your mortgage company may not be collecting enough. The problem with this is that there may not be enough to cover.
• Note: Not everyone escrows their taxes, and there are some who don't have a mortgage ( if you paid cash for your home).

Step 3: Gather Evidence to Support Your Protest ( ask your agent, i.e Me for comps)

• If you think your home may be overvalued, ask us to help send neighborhood comps. It does not take us long, and I am happy to help you with that. Email me:  [email protected]
• Having information on your neighbors homes helps too, the more your other neighbors protest, the better for you.

Step 4: File Your Protest!

• Many appraisal district websites (including Travis County) allow you to submit a protest online.
• Once you have your evidence, submit your protest and provide as much evidence as possible.  You may need to negotiate on your behalf.

Step 5: Accept or Appeal Your New Appraisal

• If you’re in Travis County, the county typically responds quickly with a new assessed value. You have the option to:
  –> Accept the new value—this will be your finalized 2025 assessment.
  –> Reject the new value from the county, and request a formal hearing .
• My husband took the meeting and while they did try to strongarm him on value, we had evidence to support, and comps and numbers are facts. 
• One key piece of advice: You can still hire a third-party service to try and lower it even further. There are many third party ones. Ask your neighbors who they have used, again, the more neighbors that protest, the better off you are.

Have questions? Reach out, we are here to help.