Allen Markel, REALTOR® · Texas Premier Realty

Fight your Texas property taxes every year

You need to dispute your property taxes every year. Do not do it by hand once and stop. Let a company that is paid only if it saves you money handle it every year.

Short answer

Fight your property taxes every year. Your county appraisal district re-values your property every year, and you get a new right to protest that value every year. In most cases the deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice was delivered, whichever is later. You can file the protest yourself with your county appraisal district, or hire a registered company to do it for you. Pick your county below to see the office to contact and the companies we recommend.

Ownwell is the only company on this list that pays us a referral fee. We receive nothing from the others.

What does it cost? The math

These companies charge only a percentage of what they save you, about 25% to 50% of the first-year savings according to the fees they publish. You keep the rest. If they save you nothing, you pay nothing.

Hypothetical example, not a promise or a prediction. Say a company lowered your tax bill by $1,000 and its fee were 35%. The fee would be $350 and you would keep $650.

Why should I protest my property taxes every year?

The appraisal district sets a new value for your property every year. That value is the starting point for your tax bill, so a value that is too high means a bill that is too high.

The right to protest does not carry over. You get it again with each year's notice, and the deadline comes with it. A protest that ended with no change last year says little about this year, because the market and the district's numbers move.

Some years you may have nothing to gain, and a protest can end with no change. Checking costs little, and the notice is your one chance each year to question the number.

When is the protest deadline?

The Texas Comptroller says that in most cases you have until May 15 or 30 days from the appraisal district notice's delivery date, whichever is later. Your notice and your district's website show the exact date for your property.

You file a Notice of Protest (Form 50-132) with the appraisal review board, the panel that hears the dispute. If you want someone to act for you, the Comptroller's form for appointing an agent is Form 50-162.

Can I protest without hiring anyone?

Yes. You can file and argue your own protest. The office to contact is your county appraisal district, which also handles the appraisal review board's hearings. Choose your county below to see its name and official site.

A company saves you the paperwork and the hearing. It is a convenience, not a requirement.

How did we choose these companies?

We look for companies that charge you nothing unless they save you money, and then take only a percentage of what they save you. Paid that way, a company has skin in the game to be your advocate.

We list every company we found that serves your county and charges you nothing unless it saves you money. The order is by lowest published fee: Ownwell is first because its coverage is confirmed and it has the lowest published fee, and the others follow from lowest to highest. Fees and coverage can change, so read the company's terms before you agree.

Which companies do you recommend for my county?

Choose your county. The six counties I work in are listed first.

Every county at a glance

Appraisal district and recommended companies by county
CountyOffice to contactRecommended companies
HarrisHarris Central Appraisal DistrictOwnwell, TaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting, Resolute Property Tax Solutions
Fort BendFort Bend Central Appraisal DistrictOwnwell, TaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting, Resolute Property Tax Solutions
MontgomeryMontgomery Central Appraisal DistrictOwnwell, TaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting, Resolute Property Tax Solutions
WallerWaller County Appraisal DistrictGill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting
GrimesGrimes Central Appraisal DistrictGill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting
AustinAustin County Appraisal DistrictGill, Denson & Company
BrazoriaBrazoria Central Appraisal DistrictOwnwell, TaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting
GalvestonGalveston Central Appraisal DistrictOwnwell, TaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company, Ortiz Property Tax Consulting, Resolute Property Tax Solutions
LibertyLiberty County Appraisal DistrictTaxProtestMap, Gill, Denson & Company
PolkPolk Central Appraisal DistrictGill, Denson & Company
WashingtonWashington County Appraisal DistrictGill, Denson & Company

What should I check before I hire a company?

  • Registration. Texas law requires a person who does property tax consulting for pay to be registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (Occupations Code chapter 1152). You can look a consultant up in the department's license search.
  • Fees. Ask for the fee in writing: what percentage, of what savings, and whether anything is due up front.
  • Renewal. Ask any company whether its service renews automatically each year, and how to stop it.
  • Authority. The company should ask your approval before it files or represents you.
  • Promises. Texas law does not allow a registered consultant to solicit business by assuring a specific outcome. Be careful with anyone who does.

What else do people ask?

Is it free to protest my taxes?
You can file a protest yourself with your county appraisal district. A company usually takes a share of any savings instead of charging up front, and each company sets its own terms, so read them before you agree.
Will protesting lower my taxes?
No one can promise that. A protest can end with a lower value, the same value, or no change to your bill. The result depends on your property and the evidence.
Do I have to protest again next year?
Yes. The right to protest returns with each year's notice, so you decide again each spring.
Who do I contact about my value?
Your county appraisal district sets the value and hears your protest. Your county tax assessor-collector sends the bill. Contact your county appraisal district for the current rules, dates and forms.
Does Allen get paid if I use one of the companies?
Ownwell is the only company on this list that pays us a referral fee. We receive nothing from the others. It does not change what you pay.

Ask Allen about property tax protests

Have a question about property tax protests? Browse the short answers other buyers and sellers have asked, or send me your own. I read every question myself.

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Sources

Written by Allen Markel, REALTOR®, Texas Premier Realty, TREC #0658294. Last updated September 25, 2026. Next review December 2026.

This page is educational information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Your county appraisal district sets the value and the deadlines, so contact it for the current rules.

Questions about Property Tax Appeal

Reading the results

  • How do I choose my county on this page?

    Pick your county from the list to see the appraisal district to contact and the companies we recommend for it. Coverage differs by county, and some counties have fewer companies to choose from.

  • What is the appraisal review board?

    It is the panel that hears a dispute over your value. You file a notice of protest with it, and the appraisal district handles the hearings. A company can appear for you if you appoint it as your agent.

  • Does a lower value mean my home is worth less on the market?

    No. County values are set for taxation and often differ from market value. A protest affects your bill, not what a buyer would pay.

What you get

  • How do the companies get paid?

    They take a share of what they save you, according to the fees they publish, and nothing if they save you nothing. Each company sets its own terms, so ask for the fee in writing and read it before you agree.

Next steps

  • How can I check that a consultant is registered?

    Texas requires a person who does property tax consulting for pay to be registered with the state's licensing department. You can look a consultant up in the department's license search before you sign.

  • Does the service renew automatically each year?

    Ask the company. Some services renew on their own, so ask how it works and how to stop it. Get the answer in writing along with the fee.

  • Should I let a company file for me without asking?

    No. The company should ask your approval before it files or represents you. If you want someone to act for you, there is a state form for appointing an agent.

  • When should I talk to you about my tax bill?

    When the notice surprises you, when you are comparing homes or when you plan to sell. We do not give tax advice, but we can show what the data says and point you to the right office.

  • Will a protest change my mortgage payment?

    Only if it changes your tax bill, and then only through your escrow. If your taxes are paid through escrow, your loan servicer adjusts the monthly amount after it sees the new bill, often at its annual review. Ask your servicer how it updates the amount.

Limits

  • Does the page recommend one company over the others?

    We list every company we found that serves your county and charges nothing unless it saves you money. One of them pays us a referral fee, which does not change what you pay, and the page says so. Read each company's terms.

  • What if a company promises a specific result?

    Treat it as a warning sign. Results are never certain, and a protest can end with no change. The page notes that Texas rules limit what a registered consultant may promise when soliciting business. Check registration in the state licensing department's search, ask for the fee in writing, and ask a CPA or tax adviser if you are unsure.

  • What if I miss the deadline this year?

    Contact your county appraisal district right away to ask what options remain, since we cannot advise on your specific case. Your notice and the district's website show the exact date for your property. Next year brings a new notice, so you can decide again, and acting early on that notice is the habit worth building.

  • Is a protest worth it on a smaller bill?

    It depends on your property, your evidence and what a service costs. If a company takes a share of any savings, a small change leaves a small amount for you, and a protest can end with no change. Weigh the time and the fee. A CPA or tax adviser can help you decide for your own case.

Where the data comes from

  • Where can I look up my tax bill and exemptions?

    Use the Property Tax Lookup for the bill split by taxing unit, and ask your county appraisal district about exemptions. The page also links to guides on exemptions and on how the appeal benefit works.

What it is

  • Why would I protest my property taxes every year?

    Some owners review their notice every year because the appraisal district sets a new value each year and sends a fresh notice. A protest that ended with no change last year says little about this year, since the market and the district's numbers move. Some years there is nothing to gain, so it is a choice, and a CPA or tax adviser can help you weigh it.

  • Can I protest on my own without hiring anyone?

    Owners can file and present their own protest with the appraisal district, which also handles the review board hearings. A company saves you the paperwork and the hearing, but it is a convenience, not a requirement. The district explains its forms and dates, and a CPA or tax adviser can advise on your own case.

  • What should I do first when my appraisal notice arrives?

    Read it and note the date, then compare it with nearby homes, for example in our Property Tax Lookup. Decide whether you want to file yourself or have a company handle it, and gather any evidence. Contact your appraisal district with questions. Waiting is the habit that costs owners the chance.

  • Which office or person handles which part of a protest?

    The appraisal district sets the value and runs the process, and the review board hears disputes. The owner decides whether to protest and may authorize a company to act. The tax office sends the bill. A REALTOR like us can show what the data says and point you to the right office, but does not file your protest.

What does it cost? The math

  • How do the appeal companies charge?

    The page says they charge only a share of what they save you, about 25% to 50% of the first-year savings according to the fees they publish. If they save you nothing, they say you pay nothing. Ask for the fee in writing, including what it is a share of and whether anything is due up front.

When is the protest deadline?

  • What is Form 50-132?

    It is the Notice of Protest. The page says you file it with the appraisal review board, the panel that hears the dispute. Your appraisal district can tell you how it takes filings in your county, and a CPA or tax adviser can advise on your own case.

  • What is Form 50-162 and when would I use it?

    It is the Comptroller's form for appointing an agent, which is how an owner authorizes someone to act on their behalf. You would look at it if you want a company or representative to file or appear for you. Ask them to explain what they are authorized to do before you sign.

  • When is the protest deadline?

    The Texas Comptroller says that in most cases the date is May 15 or 30 days from the notice's delivery date, whichever is later. Your notice and your appraisal district's website show the exact date for your property. Confirm it there, and start gathering what you need as soon as the notice arrives.

What should I check before I hire a company?

  • How do I check that a protest company is registered?

    The page says Texas requires a person who does property tax consulting for pay to be registered with the state licensing department, and that you can look a consultant up in its license search. Do that before you sign anything, and ask for fee and renewal terms in writing.

  • What should I ask before I hire a protest company?

    Ask for the fee in writing: what share, of what savings, and whether anything is due up front. Ask whether the service renews automatically each year and how to stop it. Ask who will attend your hearing and whether it asks your approval before it files. A CPA or tax adviser can help you weigh the terms.

Which companies do you recommend for my county?

  • Does Allen get paid if I use one of the companies?

    The page says one company on the list pays us a referral fee and that we receive nothing from the others. It says the arrangement does not change what you pay. You can also protest yourself with your appraisal district, and you should read any company's terms before you agree.

  • Why are there fewer companies for some counties?

    Coverage differs by county. The page lists, for each county, the appraisal district to contact and the companies we found that serve it, and some counties have fewer to choose from. Choose your county on the page, and remember you can also file with the district yourself.

Can I protest without hiring anyone?

  • What does protesting myself involve?

    In general you read your notice, gather evidence such as recent sales of similar homes and photos, file a Notice of Protest with the appraisal review board by the date on your notice and present your case at a hearing. Your appraisal district explains how it works in your county. A tax adviser can advise on your case.

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