Every property in Texas is assigned an appraised value by the county appraisal district. Property is taxed at 100% of market value, making accurate appraisals especially important. If your value is too high, you're paying more than you should.

Property owners can file a protest with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Most appraisal districts also offer an informal hearing first, where many protests are resolved without a formal hearing.

Filing a protest is free and the deadline is typically May 15 or 30 days after your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. You can protest based on market value (comparable sales) or unequal appraisal (your property is valued higher than similar ones).

Texas offers a $100,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, a 10% annual cap on appraised value increases for homesteaded properties, and a school tax freeze for homeowners 65 and over. Disabled veterans with 100% disability get a full exemption.