Home address: 4021 Shagbark St

2021 Taxable Value: $199,940

Recent Sales Price: $112,000 – Over-taxed by 79%

Half or more of Texas home owners are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. Market value property tax appeals save home owners an average of $500, according to Texas Comptroller Glen Hager, for 2019. An unequal appraisal appeal is easy to prepare.  Just find neighborhood homes with a lower level of assessment (per square foot).  Summarize the data in a table. The Texas Comptroller reports 80% of 2019 property tax appeals by home owners were successful.

Many owners do not protest because they do not understand the process.  Most would appeal if they know how easy it is the high chance of success. Appraisal districts use the cost approach to value houses.  It is generally considered the least reliable method of appraisal. One reason appraisal districts are motivated to settle protests is to maintain goodwill with the community. Protesting your property taxes annually is analogous to regularly changing the oil in your car.  Preventative maintenance avoids serious problems.