Reminder: The filing deadline is May 15 (or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later). Do not wait until the last minute.
Gather These Items Before You Begin
Your HCAD Account Number
This is a 13-digit number that identifies your specific property in the Harris County Appraisal District system. You will need it to file your protest.
Where to find it:
- On your annual appraisal notice (the letter HCAD mails you in April or May)
- On your property tax bill
- Online at HCAD — search by your address
- On the results page of our free property check tool at the main page
Your Current Assessed Value
This is the dollar amount HCAD says your home is worth for the current tax year. It appears on your appraisal notice as "Market Value" or "Appraised Value." This is the number you are challenging when you protest.
If you do not have your appraisal notice handy, you can look up your current value at HCAD. Go to the website, click "Property Search," and enter your address. Your assessed value will be listed on the property detail page.
Your Evidence
Evidence is the backbone of your protest. Without it, you are essentially asking HCAD to lower your value with no reason. With good evidence, you give the appraiser a concrete basis to agree with you.
The strongest type of evidence for most homeowners is "unequal appraisal" — showing that comparable homes in your area are assessed at lower values per square foot than yours. This is the approach used by most professional tax consultants, and it is what our evidence packet provides.
Your evidence packet includes a list of comparable properties (called "comps") that are similar to your home in size, age, and location but are assessed at a lower value. You will upload this as part of your iFile submission and bring a printed copy to any hearings.
Owner Information
When filing online, you will need to confirm that you are the property owner (or an authorized representative). You will enter your name and contact information as part of the filing process. If you are filing on behalf of someone else (for example, an elderly parent), you will need a signed authorization form. HCAD provides this form on their website.
Understanding the Three Protest Tracks
It is important to understand the three grounds on which you can protest. When you file, HCAD will ask you to select one or more reasons for your protest. Here is what each one means and when to use it:
Unequal Appraisal (Most Common — Recommended)
This means your home is assessed at a higher value per square foot than comparable homes in your area. You are not arguing about what your home is worth on the open market — you are arguing that HCAD is treating you unfairly compared to your neighbors.
When to use it: This is the right choice for most homeowners and is the basis of your evidence packet. It works especially well when your home is assessed above the neighborhood median on a per-square-foot basis.
Why it works: Texas law requires that all properties be appraised equally and uniformly. If your neighbors' homes are assessed lower, yours should be too.
Market Value (Less Common)
This means HCAD has set your value higher than what your home would actually sell for on the open market. You would need evidence like a recent appraisal, a recent sale price, or comparable sales data to support this claim.
When to use it: If you recently bought your home for less than the assessed value, or if you have a recent appraisal showing a lower value. Also useful if your home has significant issues (foundation problems, storm damage, etc.) that reduce its market value.
Tip: You can select both "Unequal Appraisal" and "Market Value" on your protest form. There is no downside to checking both boxes if you have evidence for each.
Other (Error in Description)
This covers situations where HCAD has incorrect information about your property — for example, wrong square footage, wrong number of bedrooms, incorrect year built, or listing features your home does not have (like a pool or extra garage).
When to use it: If you believe HCAD's records about your property are wrong, check your property details at HCAD. If the square footage, room count, or other physical details are incorrect, select this option and explain the error.
Key Terms You Should Know
HCAD
Harris County Appraisal District. The government office that determines the assessed value of all properties in Harris County.
Appraised Value / Market Value
The value HCAD assigns to your property. This is what your property tax is based on. It may be different from the price you paid or what you think your home is worth.
iFile
HCAD's online protest filing system at iFile. This is where you submit your protest electronically.
iSettle
HCAD's online settlement system. After you file a protest, HCAD may offer you a reduced value through iSettle. You can accept or reject the offer.
ARB
Appraisal Review Board. An independent panel that hears formal property tax protests if the informal hearing does not resolve your case.
Comparable Properties (Comps)
Properties similar to yours in size, age, condition, and location that are assessed at a different value. These are the foundation of an unequal appraisal argument.
Homestead Exemption
A tax break available to homeowners who use the property as their primary residence. If you have not filed for a homestead exemption, you should do that as well — it is separate from protesting and provides additional savings.
Understanding the Homestead Cap
If you have a homestead exemption, Texas law limits how much your assessed value can increase each year — no more than 10%. This is called the homestead cap.
This means your assessed value (what you actually pay taxes on) may be significantly lower than your market value (what HCAD thinks your home is worth).
What Is the Cap-Gap?
The cap-gap is the difference between your market value and your capped assessed value. For example, if HCAD says your home's market value is $400,000 but your assessed value is capped at $320,000, your cap-gap is $80,000.
During years when home values rise quickly, this gap can grow large. When values cool down, the gap slowly closes as your assessed value catches up.
Why Protest When You Have a Cap?
Even if your tax bill is based on the capped assessed value today, reducing your market value still matters. Here is why:
- Lower starting point: Your future assessed value increases are calculated from a lower market value base.
- Faster gap closure: A lower market value means the cap-gap closes sooner, preventing future tax jumps when the gap eventually closes.
- Long-term savings: Even if this year's bill doesn't change, you're building savings for future years.
When Does a Protest Directly Lower Your Bill?
A protest directly lowers your tax bill when your assessed value equals your market value — meaning the cap is no longer limiting your assessment. If our tool shows your assessed and market values are the same, a successful reduction goes straight to your tax bill.
If your assessed value is below your market value (you have a cap-gap), a protest is a long-term investment that pays off over the next several years.
Your Pre-Filing Checklist
- I have my HCAD account number (13 digits)
- I know my current assessed value (from appraisal notice or HCAD)
- I have my evidence packet (comparable properties PDF)
- I have the pre-written protest reason text from my evidence packet
- It is before May 15 (or within 30 days of my appraisal notice)
- I have about 15 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time