If your property value increased in the last year, you will soon receive an appraisal notice from your County Appraisal District. Your city, county, school district and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set your 2012 property taxes.
Under state law, county appraisal districts are required to notify property owners about changes in their property’s value. The notice contains important information about the property’s location, its ownership and property tax exemptions that have been applied to the property. It must also include an estimate of 2012 taxes by local taxing units.
Think You're Paying Too Much in Property Taxes?
Property owners who disagree with the appraised value of their property, the exemptions or any other action by the appraisal district have the right to appeal to their County Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel of citizens responsible for hearing and settling property owner protests. The notice of appraised value includes instructions on how and when to file a protest, a protest form and the Comptroller’s Property Taxpayer Remedies. The deadline for filing a protest with the ARB is May 31, 2012, or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed you a notice of appraised value, whichever is later.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs’ publication, Property Taxpayer Remedies, explains in detail how to protest your property appraisal, what issues the ARB can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the option of taking your case to court or entering into binding arbitration if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your ARB hearing.
Property Taxpayer Remedies is available the County Appraisal District in which your property is located. The publication is also available on the Comptroller’s website at or by calling the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division at 1-800-252-9121.
