If your Harris County appraisal notice came in higher than you think your home is worth, Texas law gives you the right to protest it. This guide is for Houston homeowners who want to do it themselves: the deadline, how to file with the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), what happens at the informal meeting and the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing, what evidence counts, and what options are left after the deadline passes. Everything here comes from HCAD and the Texas Comptroller, checked on October 8, 2026.
TL;DR
- The usual deadline is May 15, or 30 days after HCAD mailed your value notice, whichever is later. For 2026, that window has closed for most homeowners, so this fall is the time to get ready for 2027.
- The easiest way to file is online through HCAD's Owners Portal (iFile), using the iFile number printed on your notice. The paper Notice of Protest (Form 50-132) also works.
- Homeowners who iFile can opt into iSettle and may get a settlement offer by email without a hearing.
- If you can't settle, a three-member ARB panel hears your case. HCAD says formal hearings last about 15 minutes, so bring organized evidence: recent comparable sales, repair estimates, photos and your closing statement.
- If the ARB rules against you, you can appeal to district court or, for a homestead, to binding arbitration through the Comptroller, generally within 60 days of the ARB order.
- Missed the deadline? A few narrow remedies, such as a motion to correct a homestead appraised at least one-fourth too high, still run until taxes become delinquent on February 1.
How the protest calendar works in Harris County
Texas appraises property at its January 1 market value. Under Tax Code Section 25.19, the appraisal district has to mail a notice of appraised value by April 1 for a residence homestead (May 1 for other property), or as soon as practical after that, according to the Comptroller's protest guide.
The protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. The Comptroller points out that the 30 days run from the date the district mailed the notice, not the date you received it. HCAD's 2026 deadline news release adds that owners whose notice came late still get 30 days, that the later deadline is printed on the notice, and that you can check your exact deadline at hcad.org under Property Search.
If you mail a paper protest, HCAD goes by the postmark. Its chief appraiser warns that postmarks now reflect when the mail is machine-sorted, not when you dropped it in the box, so have the envelope hand-stamped at the post office if you're close to the deadline.
According to the Comptroller's Taxpayer Assistance Pamphlet (January 1, 2026 edition), ARBs begin hearings around May 15 and generally finish by July 20, though dates vary by district. Per the Comptroller's property tax basics, you generally have until January 31 of the following year to pay, and penalty and interest start on February 1.
What you can protest
Most homeowners protest the value. The Taxpayer Assistance Pamphlet lists the main grounds:
- The value is too high, or your property is appraised unequally compared with similar properties.
- The district denied a special appraisal or incorrectly denied or changed an exemption, such as your homestead exemption.
- The district failed to send you a notice it was required to send.
- The district denied the circuit breaker limitation on non-homestead real property.
The Comptroller's advice for a typical home: on the protest form, check both "incorrect appraised value" and "unequal appraisal." That lets you present the widest range of evidence and keeps your full appeal rights. What you check affects the evidence you can use and your options after the hearing.
Your notice shows two values. HCAD explains that the appraised value equals the market value or, if your value is capped, a lower number. Our guide to how the homestead exemption works in Harris County covers the exemption itself.
How to file with HCAD: iFile, iSettle or the paper form
iFile (online). HCAD's iFile and iSettle page walks through it. Look up your account at hcad.org, click "File a Protest," and you're sent to the Owners Portal at owners.hcad.org, where you create an account or log in. You'll need your account number and the unique iFile number, both printed in the upper right corner of your notice. Per HCAD's 2026 release, iFile can't be used without that number unless your portal account is already linked to the property. If you lost the notice, HCAD's free mobile app can retrieve the iFile number by scanning a Texas driver's license whose name and address match HCAD's records.
iSettle. When you iFile, you can opt into iSettle by checking the box and entering your opinion of value and your email. An appraiser reviews your property against recent sales and similar homes. If a reduction is warranted, HCAD emails a settlement offer you can accept online, and you can see the comparable sales it used. HCAD's iSettle guide says it's only for individual homeowners and a few complex neighborhoods aren't eligible. HCAD's 2026 release gives you five days from filing to upload evidence such as a closing statement, deed or photos. Questions go to isettle@hcad.org.
Paper. The Notice of Protest is Comptroller Form 50-132. It's also included with HCAD's value notice. You can drop it off at HCAD, 13013 Northwest Freeway, before 5 p.m., or mail it to P.O. Box 922004, Houston, TX 77292-2004. The Comptroller notes that the form is optional: any written notice that identifies you, the property and your disagreement is enough.
HCAD's iFile page says more than 95,000 Harris County owners used iFile last year. HCAD's information center is at 713-957-7800, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The informal meeting and the ARB hearing
HCAD's sheet on the protest process describes two steps.
Informal meeting. You meet an HCAD appraiser in person or by video. The appraiser can settle your protest on the spot, and if you settle, there's no formal hearing. The meeting isn't required by law. If you already rejected an online or mailed settlement offer, HCAD schedules you straight for the formal hearing.
Formal ARB hearing. A three-member panel hears the case, typically in about 15 minutes, and it's recorded. The ARB isn't bound by anything discussed at the informal meeting. You can appear in person, by video, by phone, through an agent, or by sworn affidavit. The pamphlet says to appear by phone or video, you must give written notice at least five days before the hearing (10 days if you have a representative).
If you appear in person, HCAD asks individual owners to check in at the first-floor counter at least 15 minutes early. Bring four paper copies of your evidence (three for the panel and one for HCAD), or bring it on a laptop with a PDF copy to leave behind. The ARB doesn't accept evidence by email.
The ARB has to give you at least 15 days' notice of your hearing. At least 14 days before it, HCAD must send you the pamphlet, the hearing procedures and a statement that you can request the data HCAD will use at your hearing. Ask for it. It shows you the comparable sales you'll be arguing against.
Under HCAD's 2026 ARB hearing rules, an owner without an agent is entitled to one postponement without showing cause, if requested before the hearing date. If you miss your hearing, the pamphlet says you can file a written statement of good cause within four days and ask for a new one.
Evidence that actually moves the number
The Comptroller is blunt: you can't just say the district is wrong. The ARB decides value from what the market shows, and it can't consider your personal finances, tax rates or the district's budget. Useful evidence includes:
- Recent sales of comparable homes near you, with photos, size, age and sale dates
- Your own closing statement if you bought recently
- Photos of defects, plus repair estimates or receipts
- A recent independent appraisal, complete
- Surveys, deed records or drawings if HCAD has the square footage or lot wrong
- A median-level-of-appraisal calculation if you're arguing unequal appraisal
HCAD's documentation standards ask that each document be signed and dated by the presenter, and that copies become part of the permanent hearing file. Start by checking HCAD's record of your home. A wrong square footage, an extra bathroom or the wrong condition rating is often the easiest fix. Our Houston property tax guide explains how the appraised value turns into your bill, and our home value tool gives you a starting point on what similar homes are selling for.
If the ARB rules against you
The ARB sends its written order by email or certified mail. The Comptroller's guide lists three next steps:
- District court. File a petition for review in Harris County district court within 60 days of receiving the order. You generally have to pay the undisputed portion of the taxes before the delinquency date, and the Comptroller suggests consulting an attorney.
- Regular binding arbitration. This is available for any residence homestead, regardless of value, and for property appraised at $5 million or less. You file a request and deposit with the Comptroller within 60 days of receiving the order.
- State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). This applies only if the ARB-determined value is over $1 million. You file a notice of appeal with the chief appraiser within 30 days and a $1,500 deposit within 90 days.
Missed the 2026 deadline? What's still possible this fall
The ARB can hear a late protest if you show good cause for missing the deadline. The Comptroller lists a few other late remedies that run until taxes become delinquent:
- A protest that HCAD or the ARB failed to send you a required notice, filed before the delinquency date.
- A motion to correct a residence homestead appraised at least one-fourth higher than its correct value (one-third for non-homestead property). You must pay the undisputed taxes on time, and this isn't available if you already protested that year's value.
- A motion to fix a clerical error, a double appraisal or an ownership error, which can reach back up to five prior tax years.
For most owners, the practical move now is to prepare for 2027. Pull this year's HCAD record, fix any errors, and keep a file of comparable sales and repair estimates so you're ready when the spring notice arrives.
FAQ
When is the Harris County property tax protest deadline?
May 15, or 30 days after HCAD mailed your notice, whichever is later. Your exact deadline is printed on your notice and shown on your account at hcad.org.
Can I protest my HCAD value online?
Yes. File through HCAD's Owners Portal at owners.hcad.org using the iFile number on your notice, and opt into iSettle for a chance at an online settlement offer.
Do I need a tax consultant to protest?
No. Texas law lets owners protest on their own, and HCAD notes that if you win a reduction yourself, you don't share the savings with a consultant. You can appoint an agent with Comptroller Form 50-162 if you prefer.
What evidence works best at an HCAD hearing?
Recent comparable sales near your home, your own closing statement, photos of condition problems with repair estimates, and corrections to HCAD's record of your home's size or features.
Can I protest if my value didn't go up?
Yes. You can protest whenever you disagree with the appraised value or another HCAD determination. Value notices are mainly required when the value increased, so check your account online each spring.
What happens if I miss my ARB hearing?
You may lose the right to that hearing and to appeal. You can ask for a new hearing by filing a written statement of good cause with the ARB within four days of the missed date.
Does protesting lower my tax rate?
No. A protest only addresses your property's value and related determinations. Tax rates are set each fall by the county, city, school district and other taxing units.
One last thing
Deadlines and rules are set by the Tax Code and HCAD and can change. Confirm the dates on your own notice and on hcad.org each year. If you're weighing whether a value is fair because you're thinking of selling, talk to our team and we'll pull recent sales for your street.