Owning real estate has its pros and cons, and tax season is never in the pro column. Unfortunately, county appraisals are finally catching up to the market. If you don’t have a homestead exemption filed on your property, you may have seen a tax increase as unprecedented as the home prices in Austin. So, we’ve put together a road map for homestead filing, tax protesting, and more to help get you in the best position for when your taxes are due to be paid.
From the Texas Comptroller:
One of your most important rights as a taxpayer is your right to protest to the appraisal review board (ARB). You may protest if you disagree with the appraisal district value or any of the appraisal district’s actions concerning your property.
If you are dissatisfied with the ARB’s findings, you have the right to appeal the ARB’s decision. Depending on the facts and type of property, you may be able to appeal to the state district court in the county in which your property is located; to an independent arbitrator; or to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
Deadline to file: May 16, 2022
Per Travis County, every spring, Travis County property owners whose market value has increased by at least $1,000 over the last year will receive a Notice of Appraised Value. This notice contains three important values:
Market value: This is the value based on what your property would sell for as of January 1.
Assessed value: This is the reduced value of your property based on limitations provided by having a homestead exemption.
Taxable value: This is the assessed value minus any exemption amounts. It is the value used to calculate your property taxes for each taxing unit.
If you believe the market value of your property is incorrect, you have the right to protest that value.
Deadline to file: May 16, 2022
Per Williamson County, Williamson Central Appraisal District is required by Texas Law to appraise property at 100% market value as of January 1st each year. The District has applied mass appraisal methods and techniques based upon the individual characteristics that affect the market value of your property.
Protests to the ARB must be filed online or provided by physical form to the District by the deadline indicated on your Notice of Appraised Value. Deadline to submit protest is Monday May 16th, or no later than 30 days from the mail date of your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later.
Deadline to file: May 18, 2022
Per Hays County, If you disagree with the value that has been proposed on your property, you should file a written protest to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) and submit it to the appraisal district by the protest deadline printed on your Notice of Appraised Value. The ARB is a panel of local citizens that will listen to evidence presented by both you and the appraisal district and make a determination regarding the issues you have protested.
Douglas Elliman
100 Congress Avenue
Suite 1445
Austin, TX 78701
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