Travis County Property Tax Protest: How to Do It Yourself
If your Travis Central Appraisal District/TCAD notice shows a value that feels too high, you can protest it — free, on your own, without paying a company a percentage of your savings. The process runs through TCAD and an independent Appraisal Review Board/ARB, and most Austin-area homeowners can work through it in a few hours. This guide covers exactly how.
Who Sets Your Value: TCAD and the ARB
The Travis Central Appraisal District appraises every property in Travis County for tax purposes. TCAD does not collect taxes — it sets the assessed value that the City of Austin, Austin ISD, and other taxing units use to calculate what you owe. When you protest, you challenge TCAD's number before the ARB, an independent panel with no stake in defending TCAD's figure.
The Protest Deadline — Confirm It Before Anything Else
Under Texas law, the deadline to protest is generally May 15 or 30 days after TCAD mailed your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later. Miss that window and you lose your chance for the current tax year; there is no grace period. Check the exact date at tcad.org the moment your notice arrives.
Two Grounds Worth Filing On
You need a stated reason — called a ground for protest — to file. Most Travis County homeowners have at least one of these, and often both.
- Market value: TCAD's appraised value exceeds what your home would realistically sell for today. You back this up with recent comparable sales — similar homes nearby that closed for less than TCAD's figure.
- Unequal appraisal (equity): your home is assessed at a higher ratio to market value than comparable properties nearby — even if the absolute number seems plausible on its own. Unusually, Texas allows a reduction on uniformity grounds alone.
You can check both grounds on the same protest form at no extra cost. Most Travis County homeowners do exactly that. TCAD's online portal lets you view the comparables TCAD used when valuing your property, so you can spot inconsistencies before you even submit your protest.
How to File Your Protest With TCAD
TCAD accepts protests online through its e-file portal at tcad.org, by mail using Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest), or in person at the TCAD office in Austin. Online is the fastest option and gives you a timestamped confirmation. Your grounds go on the protest itself — market value, unequal appraisal, or both. You do not need to submit evidence at this stage; bring it to the hearing.
After filing, TCAD may send an informal settlement offer before your ARB date — many protests resolve here without a formal hearing. If you reject the offer, your case moves to a formal ARB hearing (~15–30 minutes) where both sides present evidence.
Evidence That Moves the ARB
Print it all before you go — the panel reviews paper, not a phone. Recency matters here: Austin's fast-moving market means comps older than 12 months carry less weight.
- Three to five comparable sales from the past 12 months: homes in your neighborhood with similar square footage, lot size, age, and condition that sold below TCAD's appraised value. Zillow, Redfin, and the Travis County deed records are all usable sources.
- Appraised value per square foot for neighboring properties from TCAD's public records — showing your figure is higher — supports an unequal-appraisal argument.
- Photos and repair estimates for condition problems TCAD may not know about: foundation movement, roof damage, drainage issues, or outdated systems.
- A recent independent appraisal from a refinance or purchase, if the appraised value came in below TCAD's figure — this carries real weight as a licensed professional's opinion.
A reduction is not guaranteed. It depends on how well your evidence lines up with TCAD's data and the ARB panel's judgment. Strong, recent comps pulled from within your neighborhood are the most reliable path to a lower value.
Travis County by the Numbers: What TCAD Values and What the County Charges
Published by the Texas Comptroller in the 2025 County Report of Property Value (data version January 28, 2026), these figures explain where the number on your notice comes from.
| Measure | Travis County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Total market value | $458.8 billion | Everything the district values in the county, measured before exemptions. |
| Taxable value (General / Road & Bridge) | $329.6 billion | The portion that remains taxable once exemptions are subtracted. |
| County tax rate, 2025 | $0.37584 per $100 | Only the county line of your bill — other taxing units apply their own rates to the same value. |
| County levy | $1.239 billion | The county's total take at the rate shown. |
What this means for your bill. On $300,000 of taxable value the county line alone runs about $1,128 a year ($300,000 ÷ 100 × $0.37584). Take 10% off the appraised value and that line drops by roughly $113 — and the identical reduction then applies to every other rate charged on the same value, which is where the bulk of any saving comes from. A high county rate combined with Austin-area values is why protest volume here ranks among the heaviest in the state. Your own rates appear on your tax bill.
DIY vs. Hiring a Protest Company
Protest firms in Travis County typically work on contingency — a percentage of first-year tax savings if they win. For a typical home with straightforward comps, the do-it-yourself route generally ends up at the same number and costs nothing. A firm may be worth it when comps are scarce or the property is complex — if you go that route, confirm the fee structure upfront.
Travis County: Frequently Asked Questions
What does a protest cost me?
Filing itself is free at TCAD. The expense only appears if you bring in a firm working on contingency.
Which grounds should I pick?
Pick both unless you have reason not to. Market value disputes the figure itself; unequal appraisal compares your value per square foot against similar homes. In Texas the latter can succeed on its own.
Is there a risk in protesting?
The board decides on the evidence and is not obliged to accept your number. Outcomes are not guaranteed, though a reduction is the usual result where comps support it.
What is the cut-off date?
Texas sets it at May 15 or 30 days after TCAD mailed the notice, whichever comes later. Miss it and the year is closed. Confirm at tcad.org.
Will it come to a formal hearing?
Often not. TCAD regularly offers an informal settlement beforehand and many protests end there. Turn it down and the ARB hears the case, usually in under half an hour.