Homeowners usually feel pretty great when their home value goes up—it’s a win for your investment! But when that higher value shows up on your property tax assessment, it also means one thing…a bigger tax bill.
And if you just bought your home within the last year, and your new assessed value is way higher than what you paid, then that’s a good reason to file a protest.
Let’s talk about how this works, especially if you’re in Travis or Hays County, and how I can help if you need support through the process.
Step 1: Check Your Tax Assessment Carefully
Even if your lender pays your property taxes through escrow, you’re still responsible for making sure the value is right. Local governments don’t typically go out of their way to lower tax bills—so it’s up to you to review it and protest if needed.
Check:
- Did the value increase way more than expected?
- Does it match what you recently paid?
- Is the home info accurate (square footage, bedrooms, etc.)?
Step 2: If You Bought in the Last Year, You Have Strong Evidence
If you purchased your home in 2024 or early 2025, your closing disclosure (CD) is one of the best pieces of evidence you can use to protest an inflated value.
And Hays CAD offers quick informal, on-site reviews for recent purchase or appraisal…Travis CAD might be as well. I actually just did this for my own home!
Appraisal districts often raise values based on neighborhood trends, not specific home sales. So your actual purchase price could be a better indicator of true market value.
*If I helped you buy this last year, I can send you a copy of your CD if you can’t find it—just let me know!
Step 3: Make Sure There Are No Errors
Double-check the details in your appraisal:
- Is the square footage correct?
- Do they list features your home doesn’t have?
- Is your porch counted as living space when it shouldn’t be?
Also, if you live in your home, make sure you’re getting the homestead exemption (it reduces your taxable value).
Just in case you didn’t file for an exemption yet, here’s where to find Homestead exemption forms for Central Texas counties:
Step 4: Compare to Similar Homes Nearby
Check out public records or ask your friendly neighborhood real estate agent (hi! 👋) to pull sales data for similar homes nearby. If yours is valued significantly higher than others, that’s protest material.
You can also use a recent private appraisal if you had one completed in the last year.
Step 5: Know the Deadlines
Protest deadlines for Central Texas counties are usually May 15 or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later.
File online:
Or file by mail using this form:
* Texas Property Tax Protest Form 50-132 (PDF)
Need Help Protesting?
You don’t have to figure it out alone. I can:
- Send you comps for your neighborhood
- Provide a quick market analysis
- Help you find the right forms
- Track down your closing disclosure (if we worked together)
Just reach out and I’ll walk you through it—no pressure, just help.
Final Tip:
Even if your assessment looks okay this year, make it a habit to review it annually. Catching errors or miscalculations early can save you thousands over the years.
Buyers
Homeowners
