Texas Property Tax Protest Deadline

When Is the Texas Property Tax Protest Deadline?

The standard deadline to file a property tax protest in Texas is May 15 each year. However, there is an important exception: if your county appraisal district mails your Notice of Appraised Value after April 15, you have 30 days from the date the notice was mailed to file your protest — even if that pushes your deadline past May 15.

In practice, your deadline is whichever date is later: May 15, or 30 days after your notice was mailed. Check the mailing date printed on your notice to determine your specific deadline. If you did not receive a notice, the May 15 deadline applies.

Filing a protest is free and does not require an attorney. You can file online, by mail, or in person at your county appraisal district office. The key is filing on time — once the deadline passes, you lose your right to protest for that tax year.

The 30-Day Rule Explained

Texas Tax Code Section 41.44 provides the 30-day rule to ensure property owners have adequate time to respond to their notices. Large counties like Harris County often mail notices in batches over several weeks. If your notice was mailed on April 20, for example, your protest deadline would be May 20 — not May 15.

Always check the mailing date on your Notice of Appraised Value. The date is printed on the notice itself. If you are unsure when your notice was mailed, contact your county appraisal district directly — they can look up your account and confirm the applicable deadline.

Key Dates for the Tax Protest Season

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If you miss the filing deadline, you cannot protest your property tax assessment for that year. Your assessed value stands as determined by the appraisal district, and your tax bill is calculated accordingly. There are very limited exceptions — such as late protests for certain qualifying reasons — but for most homeowners, the May 15 deadline (or 30-day rule) is final.

This is why we recommend filing your protest as early as possible. File first, then gather your evidence. You can always withdraw a protest, but you cannot file one after the deadline has passed.

How to File Before the Deadline

There are three ways to file your property tax protest in Texas:

Online Filing

Most Texas counties offer online protest filing. In Harris County, you file through the HCAD iFile portal. Other counties have similar online systems. Online filing is the fastest method and gives you instant confirmation.

By Mail

You can mail a written protest to your county appraisal district. The protest must be postmarked by the deadline — not received by the deadline. Use certified mail to have proof of the mailing date.

In Person

Visit your county appraisal district office and file a protest form in person. Bring your property account number and a valid ID.

County-Specific Filing Information

Each county appraisal district manages its own protest process. Here are the Houston-area districts we cover:

Prepare Your Evidence Before the Deadline

Filing your protest is just the first step. To get a reduction, you need evidence. Our property tax evidence package gives you comparable sales, equity analysis, and market valuation data — formatted and ready to present at your hearing or upload through your county's online portal.

You can generate your protest report in minutes. Enter your address, review the analysis, and download your evidence. Do not wait until the week of your hearing to start gathering data.