What is a property tax appeal?

A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge your county appraisal district's assessed value of your home. In Texas, you file a protest with your county's Appraisal Review Board (ARB), present evidence that your home is overvalued, and the ARB issues a ruling.

How much can I save by appealing my property taxes?

Texas homeowners who appeal save an average of $774 per year. Success rates range from 80-91% when homeowners bring comparable sales evidence.

When is the property tax protest deadline in Harris County?

Harris County follows the Texas state deadline of May 15, 2026 (or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later). Protests must be filed with HCAD before this date.

What is the success rate for Harris County property tax appeals?

Homeowners in Harris County who file with strong comparable evidence have a 87% success rate, saving an average of $803 per year.

Harris County · Deadline May 15, 2026

Harris County Property Tax Appeal Guide

Q: What's the deadline to file a property tax protest in Texas?

In Texas, the deadline to file a property tax protest is May 15, 2026 (or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later). There are no extensions.

Houston homeowners save an average of $803/year when they appeal with strong comparable evidence. 87% of well-prepared protests succeed.

Check Your Overassessment — Free See What's in the $49 Packet

$244,000

Median Home Value

2.31%

Effective Tax Rate

$5,636

Avg Annual Tax

$803

Avg Appeal Savings

How property tax appeals work in Harris County

Every Texas homeowner has a right to protest their assessed value under Texas Property Tax Code §41.41. In Harris County, protests are handled by the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD). The deadline is May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later.

HCAD accepts iFile online protests through its portal. Informal hearings are scheduled before formal ARB hearings — most cases settle informally if you bring strong comparable evidence.

The strongest protests include 3-7 comparable sales from the last 12 months in your immediate neighborhood, adjusted for square footage, age, and condition. Houston-area assessors typically reduce values when presented with clear, recent comp data.

File With

Harris Central Appraisal District

Address: 13013 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77040
Phone: (713) 812-5800
Website: hcad.org
2026 Deadline: May 15, 2026

Cities we cover in Harris County

Our appeal packets work for homeowners across Harris County, including:

Houston, TXPasadena, TXBaytown, TXSpring, TXKaty, TXCypress, TX

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Other Texas county appeal guides

Dallas County →Tarrant County →Bexar County →Travis County →Collin County →Denton County →Fort Bend County →Williamson County →Montgomery County →Hidalgo County →El Paso County →Galveston County →