Property tax appeal comparison · 2026
Houston Chronicle TX TAX vs AppealMyTax
TX TAX shows you the data. We hand you the iFile-ready protest packet: $49 flat, one time.
Them
Houston Chronicle TX TAX
Free address lookup, paywalled comparable data (Hearst paper subscription required)
Free address search; $1.99-$4.99/mo to see comparable data
The TX TAX tool itself is free to search, but to see the comparable HCAD properties needed for an actual protest, you need a Houston Chronicle (or Hearst paper) subscription.
Coverage
Texas only (TX TAX). 7 states with real parcel data (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas), about 22.7M properties (us).
Us
AppealMyTax
Flat-fee packet, no contingency, no recurring cut.
$49 flat
One time. You keep 100% of your savings every year. Ownwell keeps 25-35%, O'Connor keeps half. See your exact overpayment free first, no signup.
Coverage
Real per-parcel assessment data in 7 states, about 22.7M properties: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas. Deepest in Florida (all 67 counties) and Texas (HCAD iFile-ready), plus a full statutory appeal guide for Georgia.
Real-world cost comparison
Houston homeowner in Harris County, $1,200/yr potential savings
Annual savings on appeal
$1,200
Houston Chronicle TX TAX cost
Free search + $4.99/mo for comps (~$60/yr) + 2-3 hours to write your own letter
$1,140/yr (after subscription), assuming you actually file the protest yourself
AppealMyTax cost
$49 one-time, packet emailed in 30 seconds
$1,151/yr, and your time is freed up
Multi-year math
TX TAX requires re-subscribing every year to see fresh comps and re-write your own protest each cycle. Our packet is a one-time $49 with no recurring subscription at all.
Houston Chronicle TX TAX: pros & cons
Strengths
- ✓ Free initial address check
- ✓ Backed by Hearst Newspapers, recently expanded statewide across Texas
- ✓ Trusted journalism brand
Limitations
- ✗ Doesn't generate a protest packet, so you have to hand-write your own protest letter
- ✗ Comparable data behind a paper subscription paywall ($1.99-$4.99/mo)
- ✗ No ARB hearing prep or filing instructions
- ✗ No annual subscription option, so you start over from scratch every year
Why AppealMyTax wins
- ★ Generates a complete iFile-ready protest packet (cover letter, evidence sheet, filing steps), not just data
- ★ $49 one-time, no recurring paywall, and you keep 100% of your savings
- ★ Step-by-step HCAD iFile walkthrough included in every packet, so filing it yourself takes about 10 minutes
Try it free
Search your address. Get your specific overassessment estimate in 30 seconds. No credit card.
Check my address · FreeThe free check is genuinely free: no signup, no email. Optional $49 packet only if you want a pre-filled iFile-ready protest letter, and you keep 100% of your savings.
Would you rather someone just handled it?
Our packet is for people who want to file it themselves and keep every dollar. If you would rather hand the whole thing off, these firms work on contingency: they take a cut of what they save you, and nothing if they lose. We are not affiliated with any of them.
- Visit Ownwell →OwnwellTX, CA, WA, GA, FL, IL, NY, CO, PA25% of your savings in TX and IL, 35% in CA, NY and FL. Nothing if they don't win.
- Visit Abode Money →Abode MoneyTX, FL25% of your savings. Nothing if they don't win.
- Visit Home Tax Shield →Home Tax ShieldTX$30 per property up front, then 30% of your savings each year.
- Visit Texas Protax →Texas ProtaxTX40% of residential savings, $50 minimum per parcel. Austin metro and Harris County.
- Visit Five Stone Tax →Five Stone TaxTX40% of your savings, or a flat minimum, whichever is greater.
- Visit O'Connor & Associates →O'Connor & AssociatesTXRoughly 50% of the first year's savings, no upfront fee.
We earn nothing from these links. They are here because a flat-fee packet is the wrong answer for someone who wants the work done for them. How we make money