Your Texas Property Tax Notice Just Arrived — Here's What to Do

Every year, Texas homeowners receive a notice of appraised value from their county appraisal district. Most people glance at it, wince at the number, and file it away. That's a mistake — because that piece of paper starts the clock on your only real chance to fight your property tax bill.

First, Read It Carefully

Your notice shows two different numbers, and the difference matters:

• Market value — what the appraisal district thinks your home would sell for on January 1
• Appraised (taxable) value — what you're actually taxed on, after exemptions and any value cap

If you have a homestead exemption, your appraised value can only rise 10% per year, no matter how fast market values climb. That cap is one of the best protections Texas homeowners have — but it only applies if your homestead exemption is in place.

Check Your Homestead Exemption

If this home is your primary residence and you don't see a homestead exemption on your notice, you're leaving money on the table — every single year. The exemption reduces your taxable value for school district taxes, it caps your annual value increases, and it's completely free to file. If you bought a home last year, file it now; you only have to file once, and it carries forward.

Know Your Deadline

The protest deadline is May 15, or 30 days after your notice was mailed — whichever is later. Miss it, and you wait another full year. (In October, if you're still unhappy with this year's value, it's the perfect time to get organized for spring — and in some counties you can still request a late correction for a clerical error or an incorrect exemption.)

Should You Protest?

You don't have to accept the county's number. Homeowners who protest win reductions far more often than most people realize. Strong reasons to file a protest include:

• Your appraised value jumped dramatically compared to similar homes nearby
• The condition or size details on your notice are wrong (the district thinks you have an extra bathroom, a pool you don't have, etc.)
• Recent sales of comparable homes in your neighborhood support a lower value

You don't need to be an expert — you need evidence. Sales data, photos, and a clear explanation go a long way.

Local Resources

Most of our clients are in Tarrant County (TAD) or Johnson County (JCAD). Both let you file protests online, and both publish the sales data you can use as evidence. If you're not sure which county you're in, your notice will say so right at the top.

The Yost Team has been serving the DFW Metroplex since 2010. We live and work in the same neighborhoods you do — and we keep an eye on local values year-round, not just at tax time.