Ownwell vs DIY vs AppealMyTax: True Cost of Texas Property Tax Appeals in 2026
Published May 14, 2026 · AppealMyTax
The contingency-fee trap
Most property tax appeal services in Texas charge a percentage of your first-year savings:
- Ownwell: 25% in Texas (35% in CA, NY, FL)
- Texas Protax: 40% plus $2.50 per $1,000 of market value reduction
- O'Connor & Associates: 40-50% depending on case
On the average Texas reduction (Ownwell reports $774/year average), here's the 5-year math:
| Service | First-year fee | 5-year cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Ownwell (25%) | $194 | $968 (refiles annually) |
| Texas Protax (40%) | $310 | $1,548 |
| AppealMyTax $49 packet | $49 | $145 |
| DIY | $0 | $0 (your time) |
These services refile every year they work for you, which means fees compound. The fee renews on the saved value, regardless of whether they moved the value further down.
The DIY option
You can file yourself, for free, in 60–90 minutes. Texas Tax Code §41.41 gives every property owner the right to protest. HCAD's iFile is free. Your evidence is in HCAD's public database.
The work:
- 20-30 minutes pulling 5-10 comparable properties
- 15-20 minutes writing the protest argument
- 5-10 minutes uploading via iFile
About 60% of DIY filers get an informal settlement offer within 2-6 weeks. Roughly 50-60% of total DIY protests result in a value reduction.
The AppealMyTax $49 path
We built the calculator and the $49 packet for homeowners who want the DIY outcome without the 60-90 minutes of comp-pulling and protest-letter drafting.
What's in the $49 packet:
- Pre-filled protest letter referencing TX Tax Code §41.43(b)(3) with your address and HCAD account
- Evidence sheet formatted for HCAD iFile (5-10 strongest comps from our 1.2M-record HCAD dataset)
- Step-by-step iFile filing instructions
- ARB hearing prep checklist
- 30-day refund
The math: $49 buys you the 30-60 minutes of comp pulling and protest letter drafting. If you value your time at $30/hour, it pays for itself the first time.
If you don't want to file at all, the $199 Done-For-You tier does the entire filing for you — provide your HCAD account number, we file under your account via iFile, you get a confirmation with case number within 24 hours.
When each option makes sense
- Ownwell: You don't want to think about property tax ever again. Comfortable with 25% of savings going to fees forever.
- Texas Protax / O'Connor: High-value commercial or luxury property, want experienced human representation at ARB.
- DIY: You have 60-90 minutes and are comfortable with iFile.
- AppealMyTax $49: You want the DIY outcome without the time investment.
- AppealMyTax $199 DFY: You don't want to deal with iFile at all.
For the typical Houston homeowner with $500-3,000 in annual savings at stake, DIY or the $49 packet keeps far more money in your pocket over 5 years.
Check Your Houston Address
Free calculator pulls HCAD comps in 30 seconds. Optional $49 packet pre-fills your iFile protest.
Run my address →