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Citizens Tax Protest Project - Texas

Is your home over-appraised compared to your neighbors?

Appraisal districts assess hundreds of thousands of homes using models that aren’t always accurate. Texas law gives you the right to challenge yours. With the right comparable data, the process is more straightforward than it looks and could save you hundreds. Enter your address to see how your appraisal compares to similar homes nearby and generate your protest documentation in minutes (for free!).

Street address only - no apartment or suite numbers needed.

How it works

From address to filed protest in four steps - all free, no account required.

1

Enter your address

Search for your property by street address. We pull live data directly from your county appraisal district's public records.

2

Review comparable properties

We find similar homes in your neighborhood and calculate adjusted values using standard Texas appraisal methods.

3

See where your appraisal stands

If your appraisal is higher than the adjusted median of comparable properties, you have grounds to protest under §42.26(a)(3).

4

Download your filing packet

Generate a complete evidence package - pre-filled Form 50-132, comp analysis, and legal argument - ready to submit to your appraisal district.

Texas appraisal districts assess hundreds of thousands of properties at once.

The models they use aren’t always accurate - and the corrections only happen when someone files a protest. If you’ve challenged your appraisal before and want stronger evidence to work with, this tool gives you the comparable data and adjusted analysis in seconds. If you’ve been meaning to file but weren’t sure where to start, it walks you through the whole process and generates your filing packet for you. Either way, you’ll know exactly where your appraisal stands before you commit to anything.

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Texas homeowners who protest - even when they may have a case
§42.26(a)(3)
The Texas statute that requires appraisal districts to fix unequal values
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What this service costs - now and always

Built on Texas Tax Code §42.26(a)(3) - Unequal Appraisal

Texas law requires that your property be appraised at the median level of appraisal of a reasonable sample of comparable properties. If your appraisal district has appraised your home higher than that median - even if the value seems "fair" in the market - you are legally entitled to a reduction. This tool identifies comparable properties in your neighborhood, applies standard Texas adjustment methodology for differences in size, features, and age, and tells you whether you have grounds to protest. The full methodology is shown on the analysis page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you start.

Who should use this service?

This tool is built for two groups of Texas homeowners: those who already protest their own appraisals and want better comparable data and documentation to work with, and those who have been meaning to protest but found the process too daunting to start.

If you've filed a protest before, you already know it's worth doing - this tool gives you the same depth of analysis in seconds that would otherwise take hours to pull together manually. If you're filing for the first time, it walks you through every step and generates your complete filing packet automatically. Either way, you'll know exactly where your appraisal stands before you commit to anything.

Why is the service free?

We're Texans who believe every homeowner deserves access to the same protest tools that professionals use - not just those who can afford to pay $50–$80 in flat fees or give up 40% of their savings to a commission firm.

We keep our costs low by using publicly available data from each county's appraisal district. Voluntary donations help us cover operating costs and expand to new counties, but the service will always be free to use.

What counties do you serve?

We currently support Williamson County and Brazos County. We're actively working to add Harris County, Travis County, and additional Texas counties. If your county isn't listed yet, check back soon.

What is the protest filing deadline?

In Texas, the general deadline to file a protest is May 15, or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed - whichever is later. Missing the deadline typically means waiting until next year.

Check the deadline printed on your official appraisal notice, as it may differ slightly by county or property type. Don't wait - the process takes only a few minutes with this tool.

Do I need a lawyer or agent to file a protest?

No. Texas law gives every property owner the right to protest their own appraisal and represent themselves at the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. No license, agent, or legal representation is required.

DIY is a completely legitimate strategy and the approach this tool is designed to support. The ARB process is an administrative hearing, not a court proceeding - there's no legal complexity that requires an attorney. The evidence that matters is straightforward: comparable properties and the numbers behind them.

Professional protest firms charge either a flat fee ($50-$80+) or a commission of 30-40% of your first year's savings. With this tool, you keep 100% of whatever you win. The packet we generate is built on the same methodology those firms use.

Is it really this easy?

Yes - if you have a valid case, this tool simplifies the process to protest yourself. Just enter your address, review the comparable properties the tool finds, and download a ready-to-file evidence packet. The whole thing takes most people under 10 minutes.

The ARB process itself is also more straightforward than most people expect. Many protests are resolved at an informal hearing before you ever see the full ARB panel. Showing up with well-organized evidence is often all it takes. The tool walks you through exactly what to expect at every step.

How accurate is the analysis?

The tool pulls live data directly from your county's public appraisal records and applies the same adjustment methodology appraisal professionals use under Texas Tax Code §42.26. It's not a guess - it's the same math.

That said, the ARB makes the final decision, and outcomes vary depending on the comparable properties available in your neighborhood and the strength of your specific case. The tool will tell you upfront if the data suggests you have strong grounds to protest.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Data is sourced live from each county appraisal district's public APIs and may differ from official records. Always verify values against your official appraisal notice before filing a protest. Currently supports Williamson County and Brazos County. Additional Texas counties coming soon.

Get notified when your county is added

Tell us which county you're in and we'll email you when it's supported. It takes time to add a new county, so we prioritize the counties with the most interest.