Why You Should Protest Your Property Taxes — and How to Win in Houston

If you’re a homeowner in Houston, chances are you’ve opened your appraisal notice with a mix of surprise and frustration. With rising property values across the region, many homeowners are seeing significant increases in their property tax assessments — and with them, their annual tax bills.

The good news? You have the right to protest your property valuation, and in many cases, you should.

💸 Why Protest?

1. You might save thousands.
Your property taxes are based on your home’s appraised value. If that value is too high, you could be overpaying. A successful protest can lower your valuation — and your tax bill.

2. Appraisal districts make mistakes.
With hundreds of thousands of homes to assess, it’s not uncommon for properties to be miscategorized, overvalued compared to similar homes, or based on outdated data. Protesting gives you a chance to correct those errors.

3. It helps long-term.
Even if your protest only lowers this year’s value slightly, it can prevent sharp increases down the road by resetting your property’s baseline for future appraisals.

🧠 Tips for a Strong Protest in Houston

1. Gather Comparable Sales (aka “comps”)
Pull recent sales of similar homes in your neighborhood. Focus on those that sold in the 4th quarter of the previous year or early this year. Homes that are smaller, need repairs, or have fewer updates are especially helpful for comparison.

2. Highlight Deficiencies
Does your home need a new roof, foundation repairs, or has deferred maintenance? Include estimates or photos. The appraisal district is valuing your home as if it’s in market-ready condition — so you’ll need to prove otherwise.

3. Use the HCAD Online Portal
The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) offers an online portal where you can file your protest and often resolve it informally without needing to attend a formal hearing. Start your protest online early to give yourself time to prepare.

4. Don’t accept the first offer (necessarily)
During the informal process, HCAD may offer a minor reduction. If you believe you have strong evidence, you can request a formal hearing to present your case before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).

5. Be polite, prepared, and persistent
Whether online or in person, professionalism goes a long way. Organize your evidence clearly and focus on facts, not feelings.

✅ Final Thoughts

Protesting your property taxes doesn’t mean you’re anti-growth or anti-community — it means you want a fair valuation for your home. With a bit of preparation, many Houston homeowners can secure meaningful reductions and protect their finances for the year ahead.

Need help finding comparable sales or preparing your protest packet? I’m happy to assist — reach out anytime!