Texas Property Tax Appraisal Protest Deadlines for 2026

Travis County homeowners who believe their property was appraised too highly have the right to protest, but strict deadlines apply.

The Travis Central Appraisal District will soon be sending appraisal notices to homeowners. If you think your property was appraised too highly, you have the right to protest it, but strict deadlines apply.

Texas homeowners who want to challenge their property tax appraisals in 2026 face a narrow but critical window — and missing it could mean paying more than necessary.

Each year, county appraisal districts determine a home’s market value as of Jan. 1, which becomes the basis for property taxes.

In Travis County, the Travis Central Appraisal District determines the appraised value of each property annually. The district does not set tax rates or collect payments; it values properties, manages exemptions and handles protests. Tax rates are set separately by local taxing entities.

Homeowners who believe their property was appraised too highly have the right to protest, but strict deadlines apply.

When are property tax protest filings due in Texas?

For most homeowners, the deadline to file a property tax protest is May 15, 2026.

If your appraisal notice arrives later in the spring, you have 30 days from the date the notice was mailed to submit a protest, even if that date is later than May 15.

That means some homeowners may effectively have more time depending on when their notice is sent. The exact deadline is typically printed on the appraisal notice.

If you miss that window, in most cases, you will lose your right to challenge your property’s appraised value.

In rare cases, the Appraisal Review Board can grant a late protest hearing to homeowners who miss the deadline if they can provide good cause for missing the deadline.

When will appraisal notices arrive?

Appraisal districts generally send out notices of appraised value between April and early May, triggering the protest countdown.

Not every homeowner will receive one. If your property’s value did not increase significantly — often less than $1,000 — a notice may not be mailed, though you can still check your value online.

Other important property tax deadlines

The protest deadline gets the most attention, but it's not the only date that matters.

• April 30: Deadline to apply for homestead and other exemptions.
• May through summer: Appraisal Review Board hearings take place after protests are filed.
• Fall (October-November): Tax bills are mailed once rates are set.
• Jan. 31, 2027: Deadline to pay property taxes without penalties.

How to file a protest in Texas

To challenge your appraisal, you must submit a Notice of Protest (Form 50-132) to your local appraisal district.

Homeowners can typically file:

• Online through their local appraisal district's portal
• By mail
• In person

Once filed, most cases begin with an informal review. If no agreement is reached, the dispute moves to a hearing before an independent Appraisal Review Board.