Texas Property Tax Protest Deadline 2026: Key Dates You Can't Miss

If you're a Texas homeowner or business owner, the most important date to remember this spring is May 15, 2026. This is the absolute deadline to file your property tax protest for the 2026 tax year.

Missing this deadline means you'll be stuck with your current property valuation for an entire year, potentially costing you thousands of dollars in overpaid taxes. Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Texas property tax protest deadlines.

The Official Deadline: May 15, 2026

Texas law sets the standard deadline for filing property tax protests at May 15 each year, or 30 days after you receive your Notice of Appraised Value from your county appraisal district—whichever is later.

For most Texas homeowners, this means your protest must be filed by May 15, 2026. However, there's an important exception:

To be safe, don't wait. File your protest as soon as you receive your notice, ideally in late April or early May.

Key Dates Timeline for 2026

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

Missing the May 15 deadline has significant consequences:

• You're stuck with the current valuation: Your property's appraised value cannot be challenged until next year.
• You'll overpay on taxes: If your property is overassessed, you'll pay inflated taxes for the entire year.
• No exceptions: Texas law is strict—there are very few circumstances where late protests are accepted.
• Lost savings: The average successful protest saves $500-$3,000 per year, money you'll miss out on.

The good news? As long as you file something—even a basic protest form—by May 15, you preserve your right to challenge your property value. You can gather detailed evidence later before your hearing.

How to File Your Protest Before May 15

Filing your protest is straightforward and can be done in three ways:

1. Online Filing (Fastest Method)

Most Texas counties now offer online filing through their appraisal district website. This is the fastest and most reliable method:

• Visit your county appraisal district's website
• Look for "File a Protest" or "Property Tax Protest" section
• Create an account or log in
• Enter your property information and select "property value too high" as your reason
• Submit electronically

You'll receive instant confirmation of your filing.

2. Mail Filing

If you prefer paper filing:

• Download the protest form from your county's appraisal district website
• Complete all required fields
• Mail to your appraisal district office (address on the form)
• Send by certified mail for proof of filing

Important: The postmark date must be on or before May 15, 2026.

3. In-Person Filing

Visit your local county appraisal district office and file in person. This guarantees your protest is filed on time and you get immediate confirmation.

Major Texas Counties and Their Deadlines

While May 15 is the standard deadline across Texas, here are the major county appraisal district websites where you can file:

• Bexar County (San Antonio): www.bcad.org
• Dallas County: www.dallascad.org
• Harris County (Houston): www.hcad.org
• Tarrant County (Fort Worth): www.tad.org
• Travis County (Austin): www.traviscad.org
• Collin County (Plano): www.collincad.org
• Denton County: www.dentoncad.com

All of these counties follow the May 15 deadline unless you receive your notice after April 15.

Pre-Register Now to Avoid Missing the Deadline

One of the smartest moves you can make is to pre-register for protest services before you even receive your notice. Here's why:

• Guaranteed filing: Your protest will be filed automatically when notices go out.
• No last-minute stress: You won't have to worry about missing deadlines.
• Faster processing: Your case review starts immediately when your notice arrives.
• Better preparation: More time to gather evidence and build a strong case.

What to Do Right Now

Don't wait until the last minute. Take these steps today:

1. Mark your calendar: Add "May 15 - Property Tax Protest Deadline" to your calendar with multiple reminders.
2. Watch for your notice: Be on the lookout for your Notice of Appraised Value in mid-April.
3. Decide on your approach: Will you file yourself or hire a professional? If hiring help, do it now before firms get overwhelmed in late April.
4. Pre-register if using a service: Services like OverAssessed can pre-register you now, guaranteeing your protest gets filed on time.
5. Gather property information: Collect your property address, account number, and recent comparable sales in your area.

Why Most Homeowners Should Protest Every Year

Many Texas homeowners don't realize they should be protesting every single year, not just when they see a big value increase. Here's why:

• Market conditions change: Even if your value only went up 5%, the market may justify a reduction.
• Comparable sales matter: New sales data each year can support your case.
• It's free to file: There's no cost to protest, so there's no downside to trying.
• Cumulative savings: Small reductions each year add up to major long-term savings.
• Professionals work on contingency: If you use a service like OverAssessed, you pay nothing unless you win.

The Bottom Line

May 15, 2026 is the most important date for Texas property owners this spring. Missing this deadline means accepting whatever valuation your county assessor assigns to your property, potentially costing you thousands in overpaid taxes.

Don't leave money on the table. File your protest before May 15, or better yet, pre-register now to guarantee it gets filed on time.