Texas property tax protest deadline 2026

The standard deadline under Section 41.44(a). File your Notice of Protest (Form 50-132 or your county portal) by May 15, or within 30 days of your notice being mailed if that is later. This is the date to aim for, earlier filing gets you better informal hearing slots.

Missed May 15? The appraisal review board can accept a late protest for good cause up until it approves the appraisal records, usually around mid-July. Good cause is read broadly. File immediately and state your reason, this window closes without warning once records are certified.

If your home is over its market value by more than one-fourth (25%), you can file a late correction motion until taxes go delinquent at the end of January 2027. A 10% late penalty applies, and it is unavailable if you already protested this year. This is the last-resort path for badly over-assessed homes.

When is the Texas property tax protest deadline in 2026?

The regular Texas property tax protest deadline for 2026 is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your appraisal district mails your notice of appraised value, whichever date is later. Because many notices arrive in April, some homeowners have until later in May or early June. After May 15, late protests are still possible under Section 41.44(b) until the appraisal review board approves the records, typically mid-July.

Can I still protest after the May 15 deadline?

Often, yes. Texas Tax Code Section 41.44(b) allows a late protest for good cause up until the appraisal review board approves the appraisal records, which is usually mid-July. Separately, Section 25.25(d) allows a late correction motion if your home is over-assessed by more than one-fourth, filed until your taxes become delinquent at the end of January (a 10% penalty applies, and it is unavailable if you already protested this year).

What is a late protest for good cause under Section 41.44(b)?

Section 41.44(b) lets the appraisal review board accept a protest filed after the regular deadline if the property owner shows good cause for missing it, as long as the board has not yet approved the appraisal records (typically by mid-July). Good cause is interpreted broadly. The practical takeaway: if you missed May 15, file as soon as possible and state your reason, because the window does not stay open long.

What happens if I miss the deadline entirely?

If you miss both the regular deadline and the late-protest window, your assessed value for 2026 is locked in unless you qualify for a Section 25.25(d) correction (over-assessment by more than 25%) or a Section 25.25(c) clerical-error correction. Otherwise, the smart move is to prepare now: 2027 values publish in March-April 2027, the same over-assessment usually carries forward, and a packet built in advance can be filed the moment new values post, before the May 15, 2027 deadline.

Does the deadline change by county?

The statutory deadline (May 15 or 30 days after your notice is mailed) is the same statewide, but your effective deadline depends on when your county appraisal district mails your notice. Districts that mail later give you a later filing date. Always go by the date printed on your own notice, and when in doubt, file early.

How long does a property tax protest take after I file?

After you file, the appraisal district schedules an informal hearing (often within a few weeks) and, if unresolved, a formal ARB hearing later in the season. Most protests are resolved between May and August. Filing early generally gets you better informal hearing slots and a faster resolution.