Texas Property Tax Protest Calculator (2026)
A Texas property tax protest reduces your county appraisal district's market value, lowering your annual tax bill. Enter your current appraised value, your proposed protest value, and your county to see estimated annual savings, 5-year savings, and how the homestead 10% cap or over-65 ceiling affects results. Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes are the largest household tax — protests are filed yearly with the county Appraisal Review Board (ARB) by May 15 or 30 days after notice. Runs in your browser. Private. No sign-up.
What Is a Texas Property Tax Protest?
A Texas property tax protest is a formal challenge filed with your county Appraisal District (CAD) disputing the market value placed on your property as of January 1 of the tax year. Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes fund schools, cities, counties, and special districts — averaging 2.0% to 2.5% of appraised value across major counties. Lowering the appraised value by even $25,000 typically saves $500–$600 a year. Most homeowners can file online with their CAD by May 15 (or within 30 days of receiving the appraisal notice, whichever is later), and over 60% of formal protests result in some reduction. Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Property Tax Protests & Appeals.
How the 10% Homestead Cap Limits Your Increase
If your property has a homestead exemption (filed once with your CAD for your primary residence), Texas law caps the year-over-year increase in the assessed value at 10% per year, even if market value rose more. This means a $400,000 prior-year homestead can only be assessed at $440,000 the following year for tax purposes — regardless of what comparable sales show. Your protest can still attack the higher market value (which carries forward), but the cap is the floor that protects your bill. Non-homestead properties (rentals, second homes, commercial) have no such cap. Source: Texas Tax Code §23.23 (Limitation on Appraised Value of Residence Homestead).
Over-65 and Disabled Tax Ceiling Freeze
Homeowners aged 65 or older — and homeowners with a qualifying disability — receive an additional Texas benefit: the school district tax ceiling. Once you qualify and file, the school taxes on your homestead are frozen at the dollar amount paid in the qualifying year. School taxes typically make up 50%–60% of a Texas property tax bill, so the freeze can save thousands as values rise. The ceiling transfers proportionally if you move within Texas. City and county taxes can also be frozen if your taxing units adopted the optional ceiling. Combined with the standard $100,000 homestead exemption (raised in 2023 by Prop 4) and a $10,000 over-65 exemption, seniors often see the largest protest leverage. Source: Texas Comptroller — Property Tax Exemptions for Age 65 or Older & Disabled.
Filing Your Protest in 9 Major Counties
Each county Appraisal District accepts protests through its online portal: HCAD (Harris), DCAD (Dallas), TAD (Tarrant), BCAD (Bexar), TCAD (Travis), Collin CAD, Denton CAD, FBCAD (Fort Bend), and WCAD (Williamson). Effective rates vary — Fort Bend at ~2.46% is the highest in the major metros, while Travis at ~2.07% is among the lowest. The protest process moves in three stages: (1) informal review with an appraiser by phone or online, (2) Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing if no settlement, (3) binding arbitration or district court appeal. Most cases resolve at stage 1 or 2. Bring sales comparables (within 1 mile, ±10% sq ft, sold prior to Jan 1), photos of defects, and a repair-cost estimate. Last updated: 2026-05-03.